Traditions are a way to bring a school community together in a variety of ways. They are key to celebrating school spirit, creating connections with students, and making long lasting memories.
LFHS has several traditions, however, as years go by, those traditions are slowly fading away. Students have lost their sense of school spirit and the fun, previous traditions have turned into a memory that people now just look back on.
Many students remember these traditions and the alumni have joyful memories of them, but the real question is, what were these traditions and where did they go?
1. The Senior Stage
The infamous senior stage was the place to be for all LFHS seniors. Instead of seniors eating lunch in the cafeteria with the rest of the grades, the seniors would have their own private lair to eat lunch on.
This was back when our current library used to be the cafeteria. In that cafeteria, there used to be a stage where seniors would bring all types of furniture like couches, chairs, beanbags, and pillows to sit on while they hung out in their exclusive lunch room that was showcased to the rest of the school. Staff members would make sure no one could get up onto the stage but the seniors.
“I sat on the ramp to the bathrooms and no one ever got up there,” said staff member Patrice McDermand.
Unfortunately, the senior stage was removed when the cafeteria switched out of the library to where it is now. Seniors now take their lunch into the senior commons, but a stage would be a lot cooler.
2. Homecoming Parade & Bonfire
Every student at LFHS was invited to gather at West Campus the Friday night before their Homecoming. On their way to West Campus, they would have a parade full of decorated cars that would start in front of the high school. They would do a lap to show off their Homecoming school spirit and then the parade would lead to West Campus for the bonfire.
This was a classic event, it involved the whole student body to gather together to celebrate the joys of yet another homecoming.
“I wish the bonfire was still around, it was always a cool experience for every homecoming,” said class of ‘08 Alumnus and faculty member Dylan Johnson.
The bonfire was a social get together tradition that all students and community members used to do. Everyone was welcome and you could talk to friends in every grade. This should be brought back as a way to enhance school spirit because it’s always something the alums have raved about.
3. The Senior Star
In the foyer by the front doors to the school is the senior star mural on the ground. Back in the day, underclassmen were not allowed to step or walk on the senior star and if they did, the seniors would throw a fit.
“It was always hilarious to see the heavy flow of student traffic diverge around the star to avoid making any contact with it,” said class of ‘95 Alumna Kelley Hoopis-Sweeney. “In fact, some seniors would go as far as to stand guard in the center of the star to make sure there was no trespassing.”
The star was looked at by the seniors as their territory and as a sign of the underclassmen to show their respect and avoid it at all costs. It was a random tribute to the seniors but one they all look back on with very fond, funny memories.
“This would never be allowed now, but if a student was caught by a senior stepping foot on any fraction of the star, you might find that same student scrubbing that spot with a toothbrush,” said Hoopis-Sweeney.
Although this treatment should not be brought back, having respect for the star again just like the old days is an innocent way to pay homage to the senior class.
4. Powder Puff Game
Most students now know this tradition, constantly questioning why we don’t have it and where it went? The junior girls used to go against the senior girls in a flag football game. There were two teams, and the school lit up with anticipation over the week leading up to the big game. The Varsity Football boys would coach the girls on plays and strategy. Students, teachers, and community members would gather to watch the game.
“It was a fun and friendly competition. The football players from each class coached us and each team had jerseys and team names,” class of ‘95 Alumna Katie Donovan said. “It seriously is the thing that my friends and I laugh about the most from our senior year. We played the game on a Saturday morning and all went to breakfast afterwards.”
This is the tradition that strongly stands out amongst the rest, where girls would have their competitive side shine when going up against a team of senior girls (or in the seniors case, junior girls). This tradition needs to be brought back. The boys have an intramural flag football team where they meet often to play, so the girls should have their own opportunity to let their competitive spirits and athleticism break through!
“My best friend’s dad was the head coach of the Chicago Bears at the time and Sports Illustrated ended up putting a little blurb about our powderpuff game in one of their issues,” said Donovan.
4. TP-ing the High School
A more rebellious tradition for LFHS seniors was to TP the high school the night before the first day of school. Although it was not necessarily allowed or encouraged, the seniors would have a blast as it was a great way to start off their last year of high school.
This always took place at midnight before the first day. Students would come dressed in all black outfits and armed with several rolls of toilet paper ready to display their masterpiece on the front lawn.
“The TP-ing was a good way for everyone to come together and start off the year with the senior class uniting and seeing people who you hadn’t seen all summer,” said class of ‘95 Alumnus Peter Hoopis. “While it was a longstanding tradition and a lot of fun, I think there would be some other ways for the senior class to kick off the year without the risk of getting in trouble.”
After the years have gone by, it is clear that some of these traditions are greatly missed, but also agreed that some should not be making a comeback anytime soon. The most important thing for our school is to keep carrying on old and new traditions that students want to be a part of so our school spirit as Scouts will never fade away.
