A Senior Fiesta will be held for the class of 2021 due to the district deciding to not allow prom this year due to concerns over the novel coronavirus. Senior Fiesta will be May 15 from 1-5:00 p.m. in THE NEST. Students will enter through THE NEST’s main doors for an identification check in and then be escorted to the bus loop area.
This senior event will kick off with a pep rally from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. From 1:45 to 2:30 there will be a staff vs senior kickball game followed by team challenges from 3:15 to 4:30, which students can sign up for. Challenge winners will be announced at 4:45. While these events are going on, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., students may participate in other activities like the rock climbing wall, bungee jump/ joust pit inflatables, the video game truck with six gaming stations each having a forty two inch screen, inflatable axe throwing and a dunk tank.
“This event is important to me because I and the other class officers worked hard the past year to raise money for prom. So, now that we don’t get one, it’s really important we make it fun. I definitely want to see competitive people playing against their friends and trying their best to win,” senior class historian Cori Bellamy said.
A photo booth will be an option at the event for seniors to capture their memories. There will be digital options in the photo booth. For example there will be a boomerang like feature. In addition students will be able to send their photos from the booth to their phones at the moment.
“I feel pretty good. I am glad we are actually able to do something for the seniors other than nothing at all. From talking to people I think they are excited. I honestly think they are pretty happy with it because once again they at least get to do something rather than have nothing,” senior class sponsor Mandy Clarson said.
Food trucks including Kona Ice, Deep Fried Eats and Treats, Tasty Balls and More, Rude Food On Wheels, and a few others will be at Senior Fiesta. A DJ will provide music and door prizes will be raffled off every thirty minutes to an hour. The PTSA is working on getting donations for more prizes. As students check in to Fiesta, their name will be put on a spreadsheet which will be used for the door prizes.
“I will be attending the Senior Fiesta because it sounds like a great idea to get the senior class together for a fun couple of hours. My class is very good with keeping themselves and others safe from COVID, and I truly believe the idea can work,” senior Seth Acero said.
Students who attend will receive a shirt. They will also be asked to wear masks. Because the event is outside social distancing or keeping kids in small groups will be easier than it would have at prom.
“I feel a bit upset about no prom because it’s something a lot of kids look forward to doing when they’re a senior, but I understand why it had to be canceled in order to keep people safe,” Acero said.
Teachers and admin will be chaperoning this event. Mrs.Clarson and Mr. Ochoa are the class sponsors, therefore they are the ones leading this event. No parents or students outside of THE NEST will be allowed to attend the Senior Fiesta.
“I think it will be successful. It’s a cheaper event than prom, and not formal, so more people may feel comfortable showing up, but I think some people may miss out because they are expecting less than what will be there,” Bellamy said.