With Period 6 and spring break ending on Tuesday, April 14, that means two things for the senior class. One, they get to leave Collaboration on B-days, and two, they get free dress for the rest of the year…every day!
This is a big moment for the senior class, and also a key factor in highlighting how the end is near. This tradition of seniors getting free dress every day, not just on Fridays, has been a fun thing to look forward to because the skirts and polos are officially gone from the daily rotation.
With this in mind, it is important to note that NDB expects all seniors to remain within free dress guidelines, according to the handbook. So, despite seniors possibly wanting to wear tank tops for the hot weather or Ugg slippers for the comfy feeling, they still have to wear free dress responsibly.
“That’s where it kind of gets a little gray line,” said Aubrie Businger, who is the head of Tier 1 Student Services, about how seniors still have to remain in free dress guidelines every day, according to the handbook. “As long as seniors are still following the guidelines, then I won’t have an issue. If they are not wearing the appropriate footwear or if things are inappropriate, then there will be steps taken [and] infractions given to help enforce it and just show the underclassman that there are still standards to what we have to wear here, even if it’s free dress.”
This tradition that NDB gives seniors is a reward for all of their hard work over the last four years. They have grown in the uniform together, and for all the homework and all the college applications they did while at NDB, this prize of getting to wear free dress every day is the cherry on top for the Sharks’ last couple of weeks of high school.
“I really like it, I love to be nice and comfy, and I feel like it’s a perfect reward for the seniors since we’ve been in uniform for all four years,” said senior Finley Wilke-Hiland.
Now, with wearing the uniform for four years, the Sharks have gotten so used to not having to pick an outfit out every day. It would just be a skirt, polo, and hoodie. With this reward, however, the seniors get to think about what sweats or leggings to wear, what hoodie, etc.
“I’m happy, but a part of me is also annoyed because I’ve worn uniforms since kindergarten, so now I actually have to pick an outfit for myself every day,” said senior Rebecca Welte.
The uniform was a sense of comfort and familiarity. However, despite the familiarity of the uniform, the seniors are happy to be comfy for their last days at NDB.
“I feel like it was nice because I didn’t really have to think about what I was wearing each day…but I’m also glad to be in comfy wear,” said Wilke-Hiland.
With this comfy wear, the Sharks are certainly more relaxed in class, and to the rest of the school, it shows that their hard work has truly paid off.
With the 2025-2026 school year wrapping up, the Sharks getting free dress every day for the rest of the year will allow them to enjoy their last weeks of high school with each other…and with comfort.
