Farewell Fridays: The Class of 2022’s Final High School Memories

By Kathryn Taleporos

May 31, 2022

After the years of the COVID pandemic prevented typical senior activities at Colonie, the Class of 2022 is bringing them back. Each Friday in June will be a different event for seniors. The first Friday in June is prom, the second is senior picnic, the third is a movie night, and the last is graduation.

This year’s senior events will be held at a myriad of locations. Prom will be held at the Albany Marriott, senior picnic will be at the West Albany Pocket Park, movie night will be held at Colonie High School, and graduation will be held at the MVP Arena.

Planning all of these events takes time and effort. The Class of 2022 Executive Club has been fundraising since their freshman year and began planning these events at the beginning of this school year.

One of the more complex events to plan, prom, requires a lot of planning from both the members of Executive Club, and the class advisors. Gigliello said that one of the more difficult aspects of planning prom is the amount of little details that need to be planned.

“Everything from getting a DJ to figuring out place cards,” Gigliello said.

Historically, prom is typically attended by 230-250 people, according to Gigliello. However, this year Gigliello said 322 people have signed up and bought tickets to prom. Gigliello attributes the high attendance to the fact that COVID prevented seniors from having a junior prom last year.

In addition to the traditional events of prom and senior picnic, the senior class, Yearbook Club, and Student Senate are coming together to put on a movie night for seniors. Gigliello says that she hopes this event will be well attended, and that while this is a newer event, she hopes it becomes a Colonie tradition.

As seniors at Colonie prepare to leave high school, they are excited for the upcoming events. This is one of their last chances to create memories in high school. CCHS seniors Jenna Nougera and Molly Ryan both say that they are most looking forward to graduation.

“It’s the last time we are all going to be together in one building,” said Ryan.

While Ryan and Nougera are looking forward to the last event of high school, Senior class advisor Julianna Gigliello said that the event she is most looking forward to is prom.

“Everyone always complains before the event, but when you get there, prom is always just a fun night.”

For seniors, information about these events, such as the permission slip needed to attend senior picnic, and information about graduation is on Student Square.