At the end of every school year students at Glen Edwards Middle School get excited for the final activities. For 8th graders the biggest events are Sunsplash and the promotion dance. After state testing students also get to enjoy Field Day. These activities are a fun way to celebrate the end of the year and all the hard work students have done. But most people do not realize how much planning goes into these events.
The planning starts months before the activities happen. Teachers administrators and leadership students all work together to make sure everything is ready on time. They have to plan schedules organize supplies and make sure students stay safe during every event.
One of the biggest activities is the Sunsplash trip for 8th graders. Students are mostly excited about the water slides and spending time with friends. But teachers and staff members have to organize buses tickets permission slips and rules for the trip. A lot of work happens before students even arrive at Sunsplash.
The promotion dance also takes a lot of preparation. Leadership students help pick decorations music and themes for the dance. They spend school time helping set everything up. Teachers and advisors help organize food lighting and cleanup after the dance ends. Even though the dance only lasts a few hours it takes days of preparation to get everything ready.
Field Day is another event students look forward to after state testing. It gives students a chance to relax and have fun after weeks of testing. Teachers organize games and activities while leadership students help run stations and keep things organized. Equipment has to be set up and schedules need to be planned so the day goes smoothly.
Money is also important for all these activities. Decorations buses supplies and food all cost money. Leadership classes and the school work hard to make sure students can still enjoy the events without spending too much.
Even though planning these activities can be stressful many students and teachers believe the hard work is worth it. The activities help students make memories with friends before summer starts and before 8th graders move on to high school.
Our ASB president Gabi G states, “We try our best to make sure all students have a great time at the school activities. A lot of people don’t realize how much effort we put into the school dance.”
Most students only see the fun parts of Sunsplash the promotion dance and Field Day. But behind every activity there are students teachers and staff members working hard to make the end of the school year special for everyone.
