In the face of final exams and end of year projects plus AP and EOC testing, many Community School of Davidson (CSD) high school students have a tendency to stress during the month of May. However, with all of its pressures and drawbacks, CSD’s end of year calendar brings many charms.
The activities begin even before classes end and continue until the final student leaves for the summer and seniors graduate. From final advisory senior send-offs, senior golf, senior flex week (that even includes seniors spending the day in caps and gowns at the lower school), pranks, final theater and music performances, powder puff then Spartan Day, there is literally something for everyone.
One tradition that begins this busy end of the school year is senior send-offs. This tradition celebrates the year’s graduating class and includes food and activities. CSD’s senior send-offs are specific to student advisories, with each advisory leader choosing how to conduct their event.
“[my advisor] gave me an ECU Tervis and brought the whole group cupcakes,” Avery Harris (‘25) said about her advisory’s senior send-off.
Another tradition many schools like CSD enjoy is senior pranks.
“I’m part of the prank this year. It’s going to be so fun,” Harris said.
Another tradition that most American high schools conduct near the end of the year is powder puff. Powder puff, which is essentially a game of American touch football played by only the female members of the school, is a competition between the junior and senior classes. Some schools even use the male upperclassmen as cheerleaders and coaches. CSD’s 2025 powder puff game happens as a stand alone event at Spartan Park.
However, even though only the upperclassmen play powder puff, all students are welcome to attend and enjoy the game.
“I was the only freshman girl there [last year]. It was a lot of fun,” Jadan Rounds (‘27) said.
One CSD specific tradition is Spartan Day. This celebration takes place during the last week of school after all the testing completes. Spartan Day is a final hurrah for testing and a way to see friends and classmates one more time.
The schedule is packed. The day starts with a “chalk the walk” where seniors decorate the front sidewalks with the logos of their future colleges. Next, while seniors enjoy a senior breakfast and yearbook signing, underclassmen attend shortened classes one last time. Students receive yearbooks, have lunch, play activities like volleyball and kickball, perform music and share heartfelt goodbyes.
It is a day with special meaning for students in every class.
“It was very nice to get notes from all the people that I enjoyed talking to,” Rounds said.
As a community school, CSD has the special privilege of inviting community members and organizations to join the fun. For the last two years the Davidson Fire Department even brought a truck to hose down the students.
“There was a fire truck spraying the field and people were mud sliding,” Katelyn Casiday (‘27) said.
Even the teachers use Spartan Day as a fun refresher day and join the activities. Thinking back to her first Spartan Day and wanting to include a fireman in the activities, math teacher Gurpreet ‘Guppi’ Berger, approached the fire truck.
“I went out there and I offered him some pizza,” ‘Guppi Berger said. “I said I’d like to get up there. I wanted a chance to spray all the students. I had a blast.”
Then it is time for the final school activity, graduation.
And for some people, the best part of the end of the school year doesn’t necessarily mean a school scheduled activity, it is about the people.
“My favorite end of year tradition is how the whole grade is like one big friend group. It happens every year,” Harper Phipps (‘26) said.
For others, it is parties that extend into the summer they remember the most..
“I host a party for my friend group after the final exams,” Lelia McQuaid (‘27) said. “It’s the best.”
