The smell of hotdogs and the sound of laughter filled the beach volleyball courts as Seniors hosted the annual carnival on Sunday, September 8. First held in 1965, the carnival is a tradition that celebrates the start of the school year and raises funds for the Senior class.

The event began with an hour reserved for campus children, after which it was open to all students. Ms. Marcie Wistar, director of student activities and clubs, said, “I’ve lived here since 2004. My kids grew up going to the carnival, where everybody has a good time. With that hour-long block in the beginning for little kids, students can bounce around afterward without hurting the little ones.”

Activities included laser tag, a “Wipeout” obstacle course, a mechanical bull, corn hole, beach volleyball, and a bouncy house. Students also enjoyed a barbeque lunch and visits to the Ice Cream Emergency truck. Khloe Kim ’28 said, “The weather was beautiful, making it the perfect day to spend time outside with friends. I especially enjoyed riding the mechanical bull, and the ice cream was delicious.”

The Senior class council worked with their class dean, Ms. Carita Gardiner, and Ms. Wistar to design T-shirts, choose activities, and organize volunteers. Ms. Wistar said, “We must pay attention to the little things, like confirming there will be electricity availability at the event’s location, or ensuring that the inflatable castle would not be deflated.”

Twenty Seniors volunteered to set up the stations, supervise campus children, play music, and grill. Class council member Miranda Beitel ’25 said, “It’s great to have events that connect classes in a social setting outside of extracurricular and academic activities.”

The class of 2025 raised over $1,200 from T-shirt sales. Senior class president Anna Ruiz ’25 said, “The carnival marked a great start of the year. It was amazing to see how everyone showed up despite their packed schedules. I hope this camaraderie continues as we spend our last year together.”