If a new student arrived at the Morgan school on Tuesday, December 23, they would be met with something that barely represented school at all – the first annual Winterfest. All day students played games with their friends, watched a movie, and participated in many other activities to generate holiday spirit at Morgan as well as take time to celebrate as a community.

The idea was the brainchild of math teacher, Stephanie Davis. “I was thinking about how much I love the holidays, and I was thinking about how most teachers just do something fun in their classroom on that last day. And this year, it’s so close to Christmas. I thought it would be fun if we tried something as a whole school,” said Davis, who planned and put on the event with students from the Spirit Squad.

The idea came about in the beginning of the year, but it didn’t start to be put together until after homecoming. It took them about a month worth of meetings to plan everything out. They had to figure out everything from a new bell schedule to the time frame to incorporate lunch. Mr. Luther was the main person that Mrs. Davis worked with in order to change the schedule. 

The Spirit Squad is the group of about 25 students, and Mrs. Davis, that oversees all of the events and spirit weeks that happen at Morgan. They meet every other week to plan events like Homecoming, an event after senior awards, an event for teacher appreciation week, and many more.

“I jokingly say that we’re kind of like the event planners of the school. And every year, I try to think of some fun things that we can add to what we do, beyond your normal homecoming and stuff like that,” said Mrs. Davis.

Morgan has never had an event like this one. Prior, students would just have a day before break where they would come and do little to no schoolwork. The only festive event was the caroling through the hallways done by the chorus.

The day was broken into 28 minute experiences, ranging from games to a movie.  One of the popular experiences was in the gym – where students participated in games involving the students pulling another student to collect “presents” as well as a game where they compete to decorate the best tree, where the tree is another student. These

games are supposed to support team building while also being fun and holiday themed. One of the games had one person, “a reindeer”, pulling another person on a scooter, “Santa”, to go get presents.

Senior Jacquelyn Ciarleglio was one of the students on the team that helped with the planning and running of the event. “I think my favorite part was definitely the games in the gym, because I felt that we got to compete as a grade with our own advisors, and it brought all the students together.”

Students were also shown Shrek the Halls in the auditorium, a 2007 film where Shrek, unsuccessfully, tries to create the perfect Christmas for his family while also dealing with his crazy friends crashing their party. 

From there, students were whisked to the cafeteria for Christmas trivia. With many of the questions having to do with famous Christmas movies like Elf, and Christmas Vacation as well as songs like Santa Claus is coming to town.

“I definitely think the trivia in the cafeteria, I feel like it was a competition, of course. So, everyone got to collaborate with their friends. So, I think that was the best part, cause the energy was high,” said Ciarleglio.

Finally, students end the day with a full school sing-along in the auditorium with many of the most famous Christmas songs like jingle bells, and rocking around the Christmas tree and a holiday pep rally in the gym. 

“Creating the Winter Fest for the first time was really fun, because I thought it brought the school together and brought the camaraderie up a lot,” said Ciarleglio

Mrs. Hagness and Mr. Luther played a big role in making this day happen for all of Morgan. Mrs. Hagness said that, to her, it is all about being a community.

“I think it’s everything. I love the idea of everyone having fun, learning, and working through hard things together. I love that everyone showed up and saw how much the staff really cares about them,” said Mrs. Hagness.”

Mrs. Hagness believes the event was a success. Although she acknowledges that the time and planning that went into it was stressful for staff members.

Initially, she worried about the stress it would bring to plan an event like this.  “I thought about the planning, and it was stressful, but a lot of people stepped up to help organize it,” said Mrs. Hagness.

But through all the hard work and effort from the Spirit Squad and the staff members, according to the survey that was sent out after, the students were able to have a fun day.

“There was a lot of positive feedback. A lot of people said that they wish that we would do things more throughout the year on half days like that. Like maybe something before spring break. There was some feedback that people’s favorite parts were, like, the trivia, and getting to watch a movie together,” said Mrs. Davis.

All of this positive feedback will hopefully create a new annual tradition at Morgan.

“I hope so, I’m glad that we could give everyone a good last day to end on and be in a good mood. To send them off to be with their families not stressed about school,” said Mrs. Hagness.