The new school year started on Wednesday, but the Class of 2026 kicked off their year celebrations with the annual Senior Sunrise on Monday at 6:35 a.m. in the parking lot in front of The Nest with free donuts for seniors and senior yard signs available for pick-up.

“I felt it was really cool to see everyone from the grade come together one last time before we all embark on senior year together,” senior Srishti Shetty said. “Some of these people I have seen for 12 years so sharing these moments with them is really special.”

In addition to the togetherness and community feel of the event, the beauty and peacefulness of the sunrise itself made the moment all the more special for Shetty.

“My favorite part was probably watching the sunrise come up,” Shetty said. “It kind of created this golden hour effect which was really beautiful and everyone looked like they were glowing!”

Watching the sun rise and the dawn of a new day begin was a fitting start for the 2025-26 school year for senior Sahana Sethuraman.

“[The Senior Sunrise] felt symbolic of the start of our year as seniors and it was nice seeing it with my friends,” Sethuraman said.

For senior Catalina Landauro, the event stretched beyond just the sunrise, extending into an opportunity to hang out with friends and prepare for upcoming senior events.

“Senior sunrise was fun,” Landauro said. “There were a lot of people we could talk to, and we got to watch the sunrise. Afterwards, my friends and I went to breakfast, got PJ’s Coffee, and painted our senior jeans. I feel like it was a very fun and eventful way to start senior year.”