The sunrise on Tuesday, Aug. 23, represented a new day and a new beginning for seniors as they embarked on their last first day of school. Many seniors gathered at 6:00 a.m on the football field to enjoy the sunrise and games before the  day officially began.

Last year, after COVID had halted many upperclassmen traditions, the senior class council decided to start a new tradition, Senior Sunrise, that the Class of 2023 decided to continue.

While seniors sprawled out all over the F.W. Poates Stadium with blankets, corn hole, some seniors, wished it was a little bit later in the day.

“Personally, I’m not a morning person, but after getting up and seeing the sunrise, I would still prefer my sleep,” Senior Class President Sam Sperry said.

Many seniors were still able to enjoy the morning. Renee Cline, 12, said that it was “OK, but you couldn’t really see the sunrise.”

Other students were happy to spend their last couple hours of summer with each other, watching the sunrise, before the first bell rang and officially started the school year.

“It was so much fun. I really enjoyed the music, and it was a fun hour before school started,” Amaris Betton, 12, said.