The start of the school year comes with more than new classes and fresh schedules at Eastport-South Manor High School, as students took to the parking lot to mark a cherished tradition: painting their parking spaces with personal designs that reflect their interests, creativity, and school spirit.
Equipped with rollers, paintbrushes, stencils, and buckets of paint, students arrived early to bring their ideas to life. This vibrant event—held annually and affectionately dubbed “Paint Day”—is more than a visual spectacle. The small fee seniors pay for a designated spot helps fund senior activities such as the prom and ensures the next class can participate in the tradition.
This year was especially heartwarming as familiar faces, from enthusiastic siblings to proud parents, joined in. Those family members added energy and support, cheering on the artists, sharing stories, and making the day a true community affair.
One senior described the experience as a creative rite of passage—painting their spot allowed them to claim a piece of the school, inject personality into the everyday, and celebrate the years behind them. Dozens of vibrant squares now decorate the lot, each one telling its own tale, with themes ranging from school spirit and pop culture to personal artwork and inside jokes.
As the school year ramps up, the painted parking spaces stand as colorful reminders of the class of 2025’s unity, creativity, and the family and community bonds that helped start their senior year on a colorful note.