There is no better way to finish up a week of standardized testing than with a school carnival.
Teacher Jon Poole lays down the rules for the major dodgeball tournament at the TCAP Fest. Photo by Tori Wallace
On Friday March 15th, students were invited to participate in a school wide carnival to celebrate the completion of the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program, or TCAP. This carnival was used as a way to celebrate the end of the TCAP week as well as a way for school groups and clubs to fundraise for future activities. Each group that wanted to participate had been asked to contact Assistant Principal JoAnne Moreno about reserving a spot for the event. Friday was meant to be laidback, so that students could relax after a long week of testing. There was even a reduced schedule to accommodate the time that the carnival required. This year, it didn’t even cost money to experience the carnival, as it had in previous years.
Every group that reserved a space for the carnival did something different from the rest. Some sold food, some had games, and some sold tickets to upcoming school events. “The biggest sellers in years past have been the three-point shot and the dodgeball tournament that everybody wants to do, but now there’s going to be different kinds of foods and games as well,” said Moreno. The carnival took place throughout the front part of the school, stretching from the front doors to the main office, with a few activities in the gym. “It was really just a way for the whole school to relax and get ready to come back Monday and start working hard again,” Moreno said.
One of the most popular activities throughout the carnival was Social Studies Teacher Jon Poole’s dodgeball tournament, held in the basketball gym. Teams signed up during the weeks leading up to the tournament. Each team chose a different name for themselves that expressed their team members. The final tally had six teams registered for the tournament: Teachers, Bout Dat Life, Black Cobras, Unsubstantiated Egos, Purple Dragons, and Jah’s Army. It seems that the team with the name of an organized force was the most organized themselves. Jah’s Army, featuring Tyler Moehlman, Nate Gengler, Ty Roder, Jeremy Albright, and Matt Fabian, was the winner of this heated tournament. “Well, obviously, for Jah’s Army, it went really well. It’s few and far between to see the student teams win the dodgeball tournament. Usually it’s the teacher team that takes it, but they fell out early and we managed to win. Overall, it went well,” said Fabian. If the dodgeball tournament is available at next year’s carnival, it definitely wouldn’t be wise to pass up on the opportunity to prove your superiority and have a great time at the same time.
Although different from previous years, the TCAP Carnival was still an enjoyable event for all students and faculty members who participated in it. “TCAP week went really well; a lot of people came to take the test. The carnival was really diverse; there were a lot of people and a lot of booths, and it was really fun to see all of the different clubs and sports and organizations participating,” said TJ Sophomore Caitlin Rogers. It really was the best way to wind down from such a difficult and strenuous week of standardized testing.
