On the night of August 22, 2025 and into the early morning of August 23, the Class of 2026 kicked off their final year with an unforgettable Senior Lock-In. Held in the DHS school gym, the all-night celebration was planned and decorated by the Senior Class Student Council with a vibrant sunrise theme. It was the first time the gym had been transformed for the event, which took over a week of pre-planning to execute the plan perfectly, according to the ASB.
The evening began at 10 p.m. on Friday as students placed their bags in the gym before heading to the pool area. There, seniors enjoyed tacos, music, and swimming, while snapping photos and soaking in the excitement of spending the night together.
Just after midnight, everyone returned to the gym, where the Senior Council had arranged a variety of activities. Students decorated senior boxes, made crowns, and designed custom shirts by using fabric to spell out “SENIOR.” There was also a letter-writing station where students could craft messages to their future selves, creating a personal keepsake to look back on after graduation.
Senior Denise Cabrera shared her positive experiences. “I liked how I was able to connect with my senior class and see people I haven’t been able to speak to in a long time.”
At 3 a.m., the gym quieted down for a showing of the movie “Toy Story,” giving seniors a chance to relax. An hour later, at 4 a.m., waffles topped with fresh fruit were served to give everyone a boost before sunrise.
“These past few weeks have been really fun and really eventful,” said Abraham Martinez, another senior who attended Lock-In. When asked about how he felt about his first senior event, he agreed that it was a great way to begin the festivities officially. “Classes aren’t too hard, it’s just gonna be a really good year.”
After pulling an all-nighter at the lock-in, students cleaned up and headed to the football stadium to admire the sunrise.
On the field, students claimed their spots by putting down their blankets and lying down to watch the sunrise. The student council created many posters that people could take pictures of with their friends. Students took the opportunity to hang out with friends and have a good time. Once the sun fully rose, students said their goodbyes and headed home.
“I’m glad my council is very communicative and we all communicate and discuss things that helped us plan accordingly and lead to the creation of Senior Sunrise,” said Muskaan Thindal, President of this year’s Senior Council. She explained that, although it was a lot of work divided among her and the rest of the Senior Council, it was all worth it.
The night brought together food, music, activities, and a sunrise sendoff that set the tone for the year ahead. The beauty of Senior Lock-In and Sunrise is that each student had a different experience, but they made it their own. It was the perfect way to kick off a new and final year for the Class of 2026.
