Senior Dues

What are Senior Dues? Senior dues are late fees (like the ones they have in the library) that are only available to seniors who have not yet turned in late books or textbooks. So, why were they even invented? Do students or 12th graders really need these late fees (senior dues)? “If you lose a book you have to pay it,” says Mr. Palomera, a Technology and Media University Academy teacher at South East High School, who teaches Digital Computers. These senior dues are preparing, or disciplining the students who do not turn in late books by senior year, to be responsible in the real world and to show them how it is, and how they can prepare for it. Senior dues are payments for packets that have to be purchased for graduation. There are packets A B and C, which are at different prices. Each packet has different equipment inside. Packet A has the cap, gown, and the hassle. Packet B is a list of equipment. Packet C is the same as B, the difference is that, packet C has a yearbook included. The highest packet can go up to $200. Senior dues are also paid for senior activities like senior cookout, and other entertaining activities.
Why are senior dues only available to seniors? Senior dues are only available to seniors because then it is easier to focus on seniors and not the whole school itself. If almost every student at SEHS was to turn in their dues it would be a big mess and there would not be much control. They only pick seniors to pay dues and they have to be paid off “because they are not coming back, so if they don’t come back they won’t be paid off,” says Palomera. This is true, they have to be paid because it is preparing students for college in the future, and in college, textbooks have to be bought as well as school supplies, labtops, etc. Senior dues are paid at the student store by the covered eating area at lunch. Dues should be paid in cash only. By when do they have to be paid? What happens if they are not paid? They have to be, “paid before you graduate,” if not, “they might not walk the stage,” says Palomera. If they are not paid before graduation, the senior won’t be able to graduate, or receive a diploma, which can, or will affect their career and it can make their resume look bad for college, university, or a for a good paying job. “I don’t think so,” says Palomera of his thoughts whether or not dues can be late. They can be paid anytime before graduation, and after but if they can be paid before its better. Like they all say, “they sooner the better.”