In the second half of the school year, after college applications have been submitted and realizing the reality of their McDonogh career coming to an end, fun for the senior class begins. Since the 1970s, seniors have hosted a night of entertainment to raise funds for a charity. The on-again, off-again event — at sometimes called the Senior Follies and more recently McDonogh’s Got Talent — has typically featured silly skits and true talent. In the spring of their final year at McDonogh, the Class of 1970 held a two-hour production that ran for two nights. True to its name, the light-hearted Senior Follies featured magic, music, (belly) dancing, and a wrestling act. In 1971, students were promised, “For the measly price of a buck, you get to view the visionary wonders and partake in the wondrous music which will emanate from the Edwards Gymnasium. The 1979 follies saw the largest attendance and earned the greatest amount of money to date—about $700.
The faculty got into the act in 2011, and an article in the February 28 issue of The Week stated that the Faculty Follies provided students with countless laughs and raised $2,532 for KIPP: Knowledge is Power Program. The article noted that the theater was filled to capacity and audience favorites included Ms. Collins and Mrs. Pearl’s rap, the faculty Step Squad, and many musical performances, especially the School of Rock band.
The story concluded: “Indeed, the high-energy evening for charity was priceless those two hours captured the soul of McDonogh: a community that ‘finds joy in work and play,’ a place characterized by ‘strong, mutually respectful relationships between students and teachers,’ and a community which aims to inspire its members to ‘do the greatest possible amount of good.’ Teachers having fun on stage, their students cheering them on, all for the betterment of KIPP’s educational mission. Thank you to Mrs. Kriebel and the entire cast and crew of the 2011 Faculty Follies!” For various reasons, COVID among them, the senior performance came and went, and most recently, when it returned in 2023, it was branded McDonogh’s Got Talent.
As the senior class inches toward Commencement, milestones are marked. Their last Love Week is followed by 100 days before graduation, and after spring break, things kick into high gear. In mid-May, the members of the graduating class embark on their Senior Projects. The opportunity to do a senior project was instituted in 1974 to allow seniors to pursue educational opportunities unavailable to them during the regular academic day. When it became evident that a wide range of students were benefiting from the program, participation was broadened, and in 1991, all seniors were freed from the normal daily requirements of the last few weeks of school to pursue projects that would satisfy their special cultural, vocational, and intellectual interests. Today, seniors focus on either career exploration or social impact/service projects. Using McDonogh’s vast alumni and parent network and the resources of Greatest Good McDonogh, seniors have valuable experiences as they broaden their horizons and fly.
