ASD 2019: Blast from the Past

It is not on any given Monday that Westridge students can walk into Room 11 and see Skop bopping on the "Dance Dance Revolution” machine or Ms. Coker decked out in a fluffy pink hat and feather boa, or Mr. Harrison laughing at students stumbling on a roller rink. At All School Day, on Monday, February 25, though, this was the norm.

 

All School Day (ASD), stretching back 45 years, is a time honored Westridge tradition. Originally organized to consist of group discussions between students and faculty in the morning and games in the afternoon, modern ASD consists primarily of the latter, giving students a school day to relax, partake in fun activities, and eat yummy food centralized around a common theme. Planned and executed by the Associated Student Body (ASB), ASD is a great time for Westridge students 4-12 to come together for a bit of school-wide fun.

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

This year’s ASD theme was “Blast from the Past.” Employing decade specific activities, ASB turned the Westridge campus into a cultural timeline. The Commons was transformed into a 1950s diner and photobooth, the Quad remade into the Woodstock Music Festival (complete with a The Beatles cover band and tie-dye), Ranney Court transfigured into a 1970s roller rink, Rooms 10 and 11 filled with 1980s Video Games, and a 1990s hip hop instructor in the Dance Studio. “I liked the theme. Everything went really well together. There were a lot of different things so everyone could get involved,” commented Sonaya V., ’22. Everyone had their personal favorite activity: “The Beatles was the best part,” claimed Frannie C, ’22, while Zoe K, ’23 loved roller skating.

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

ASD was finished off with a Westridge rendition of the “Disney Channel Games” coined the “Tiger Games.” Introduced by special guest Phill Lewis, better known as Mr. Moseby from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, the Tiger Games culminated the decade theme by representing the 2000s. In a multi-activity battle between Greeks and Romans, students raced, tumbled, and threw to get their group points. The games were broken up into three sections – dodgeball in the gym, human hamster balls and a blow up obstacle course on the south field, and “get the stuff” and human foosball on the north field.   

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

ASB has been hard at work planning All School Day since November. Working in conjunction with Student Leadership Assistant, Kali Reider, the ASB Cabinet in particular has worked tirelessly to put on a day that will engage all Westridge students while remaining within budget. While that budget consists of several thousand dollars, managing this organization is not always easy. “We have to find activities that are fun and engaging for 10 year olds and 18 year olds. We also need to make sure that the events we have planned are feasible for the school and budget,” stated Greek Activities Head, Annie L., ’19.

 

Beyond ASB’s planning, Kali Reider works behind the scenes to actualize and aid ASB with their vision. Self-describing her role as the “reality police of what is possible and what is not,” Kali Reider provides vital logistical backing to ensure that ASD is executed without a hitch. “My favorite part about planning ASD is being able to be the one to foster [ASB’s] dreams,” said Reider. “I hope that kids can get spirited and involved and be able to just play and remember that they are kids and hopefully forget homework and deadlines and colleges for just a second,” she affirms.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

This year’s ASD was a big hit. “The energy was really high this year,” observed Mina G., ’22. Everyone, from fourth graders experiencing their first ASD to Seniors experiencing their last, got involved and invested. “[ASD] is the way that I flex on my friends that my school is better than theirs. I go home and I am like ‘I was just on a ferris wheel, I just did roller skating, I just met Mr. Moseby,’” joked Salomé A, ’19.

 

After a day of fun though, a big question remains: will ASD continue in future years? Due to student disinterest (particularly in the higher grades), the Westridge administration has considered altering or even stopping ASD. “There have been conversations for three years if not longer where [Westridge administration is] weighing if students are apathetic about [ASD],” reports Kali Reider. If the tradition continues, there is a probability that it will change, possibly with a decreased budget or having a service learning element involved.

 

“I think [cancelling ASD] could have a bit of a negative effect on the community… there are a lot of other ways that the school could utilize this day, so I think we should be grateful we get to have a day of fun,” stated Annie L. “I think that Westridge is so hard as it is that it is better to have a day like ASD where students can relax, destress, and hang out with their friends and teachers. I am very grateful to go to a school that offers students a day like this,” asserted ASB Secretary, Lauren B., ’19.