Crimson Carnival excites students for summer (photo essay)
Those who normally count down the minutes until 2:30 instead counted down until noon, when they were allowed to pour onto the football field, temporarily banish the professional dress code and enjoy themselves at the Crimson Carnival, a PBIS-funded event for students with no disciplinary infractions.
EAT — Junior Tyler Timberlake smashes his face into a pudding pie, trying to beat out his pie-eating competition opponents. Senior Gavin Newton, seated at the far end of the table on the right-hand side, was triumphant in this round. “I didn’t even know I was doing it because my girlfriend signed me up as a fun surprise, but I’m glad I did because it was actually fun,” Timberlake said.
WAIT — Students stand in the sun as they imagine themselves flipping using the bungee cords. The Crimson Carnival featured a blow-up obstacle course, two rock climbing walls and a few food stands with treats in exchange for Crimson Cash, the school’s version of merit-based achievement awards. “The heat just made the day better,” sophomore Kyra Hubler said. “I’m sure all the Keystone takers enjoyed the reward after their hard work.”
FLIP — Embodying the slogan on her shirt, “Be free,” senior Chloe Bledsoe flies through the air while safely strapped into a bungee jump mechanism. Students did not need to use Crimson Cash to access the bungee jump or rockwalls. “It was nice that we were actually allowed to go outside for once,” Bledsoe said. “It was so much fun. I wish the school would do more like this with students.”
SMILE — Ms. Tiffany Reedy, principal, proudly stepped down off the fighting pedestal after her win against Mrs. Kristin Perhonitch, physical education teacher. After an announcement was made alerting the whole field to the fight of the century about to occur, students flocked to the ring in crowds to have a chance to see their principal. “I was surprised they actually went up there and did it. Teachers usually try to back out of things like that,” junior Bobby Moyer said.
HIT — Juniors Hannah Sponenburg and Olivia Eagan battle it out during a jousting tournament. The lines for this blow up game and the blow up obstacle course were consistently long, but the warm weather kept everyone happy even when waiting for their turns. “I didn’t think the carnival was going to be as exciting as it was. It was way bigger and more intense than I expected and so much fun,” Sponenburg said.
HUSTLE — A military recruiter shows he can keep up with the younger generation by joining them for a game of football. He was joined by juniors Ian Murhon and Eli Wood. “The recruiter just walked up and asked to play and was pretty good [at it],” Murhon said. “Playing football with the bros just brought out some positive vibes.”
TUCK — Condensing her body to prepare to flip over, junior Elizabeth Garraway swings up into the air over the crowds of the carnival. Also high above the rest of the carnival, junior Max Kelly scaled to the top of the rock wall. “I really enjoyed the bungee jump because I took the skills I know from dance to get good height. My favorite part of it was doing backflips because it was such a cool sensation to have the thrill and not have to worry about hurting yourself,” Garraway said. “I have to say I backflipped my way out of the 2016-2017 school year.”