Beneath the oak trees and morning mist, the class of 2025 gathered – not in caps and gowns, but in college T-shirts, breakfast in hand, and the upcoming days on their minds.
Just after sunrise, the backyard of Head of School Mr. Jonathan Eades turned into a patchwork of university logos and breakfast buffets as seniors arrived for their annual send-off: Senior Field Day Breakfast, a tradition marking the beginning of the end.
Held each spring ahead of Field Day, the event offers seniors a chance to connect, reflect, and mark the final stretch of their high school experience. Students arrived around 7:15 a.m., helping themselves to breakfast sandwiches and coffee before heading to campus for one of their last major events as a class.
“Even though the breakfast started at 7:15 a.m., we had incredible attendance and energy,” Mr. Eades said.
College T-shirts served as the unofficial dress code, creating a colorful visual of where students are headed after graduation. The informal setting gave students space to take photos, share plans, and enjoy a slower moment before the busier events ahead.
“It was so cool to finally wear the college shirts that I’ve seen my friends in the years before wear because I feel like it makes it so real that we’re all going to college,” senior Maddy Billipp said.
Mr. Eades agreed.
“The college T-shirt reveal is the best,” he said. “I love seeing all the hugging and group photos, with everyone grateful for their Kinkaid friends and at the same time excited about and proud of their college futures.”
A senior family hosts the breakfast annually, opening their home and backyard for the occasion. This year, the Mr. Eadesl offered to host as he has a daughter, Lilla Eades, in the senior class.
“The Class of 2025 is such a special class, and we enjoy opening our doors and backyard, so everyone in the class can be together in a meaningful way. Having our daughter Lilla as a senior only sweetens how special the breakfast was,” Mr. Eades said.
After breakfast, students followed the path to school, where they would participate in team competitions and spirit events for the final time. While Field Day focuses on celebration, the morning breakfast sets a quieter, more reflective tone.
“It’s been such a journey for everyone, and it was so sweet just to all come together even though we’re all going different ways,” Billipp said.
