Winter Spirit Week wrapped up with the annual Winterfest during Community Time in Taper Gym on Dec. 12. The Prefect Council planned a series of winter dress-up themes and activities for Winter Spirit Week. Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (SLIDE) and the Prefect Council organized Winterfest to provide community, celebration and cultural recognition featuring performances by Jazz Explorers, Jazz Singers, the cast of the school’s “Mean Girls” musical, Chamber Orchestra and the dance program.
Head Prefect Robby Louie ’26 said he aimed to provide a time to destress during the busy three weeks in between Thanksgiving break and Winter break through fun dress-up days and Winterfest.
“We hoped that the dress-up themes would make students feel excited leading up to Winterfest,” Louie said. “The three weeks between Thanksgiving break and Winter break could be really stressful, especially for seniors who were getting early college decisions back, so we hoped that Winter Spirit Week and Winterfest gave students a chance to take their minds off of their stressors and enjoy being with their friends.”
The Prefect Council put together activities for Winter Spirit Week including friendship bracelet and lanyard making, ornament decorating, snow globe making and a holiday movie in Rugby Auditorium. Sophomore Prefect Diya Desai ’28 said the Prefect Council aimed to create a fun, spirited atmosphere before winter break.
“Our goal with this year’s Winter Spirit Week was to provide students with fun dress-up themes and activities every day during lunch,” Desai said. “We wanted to help students enjoy the spirit of the holidays leading up to winter break.”
At Winterfest, SLIDE and affinity group leaders shared their cultures and traditions from diverse religious and ethnic communities. Senior Prefect Samaya Sayana-Manchanda ’26 said she wanted Winterfest to give students a sense of belonging.
“I hoped that Winterfest gave every student, no matter their background, identity or traditions, a feeling of belonging,” Sayana-Manchanda said. “This event came at a stressful time of year, and my hope was that it felt like a pause where the whole community came together, recognized one another’s cultures and celebrated the many ways we all belong on campus.”
Louie said he wanted Winterfest to be a fun experience while also being educated about various cultures during the winter holidays.
“Every year, our biggest goal was to create an experience where students could have fun while also learning about the many different winter holidays in different cultures,” said Louie. “We hoped that this year’s Winterfest built community and promoted greater cultural understanding.”
