First annual ‘Color Wars’ brightens Archer spirit

Alyssa+Downer+17+and+Anika+Bhavnani+17+celebrate+Color+Wars+in+the+Courtyard.+They+showed+off+their+blue+spirit+with+sweatshirts%2C+face+paint+and+caps%3B+Bhavnani+made+hers.+Image+courtesy+of+Bhavnani.

Alyssa Downer ’17 and Anika Bhavnani ’17 celebrate Color Wars in the Courtyard. They showed off their blue spirit with sweatshirts, face paint and caps; Bhavnani made hers. Image courtesy of Bhavnani.


The Archer campus is normally covered in evergreen, white and grey, but on Friday, Feb. 19, the campus filled with every color of the rainbow for Color Wars.

Infographic explaining what color each grade is assigned. The grade wore and participated in activities based on their color. Infographic by Cybele Zhang '18.
Infographic explaining what color each grade was assigned. The grade dressed in their color and participated in activities based on their color. Infographic by Cybele Zhang ’18.

Color Wars is an event organized by Student Council as a school-wide activity between Winter Break in January and Spirit Week in March. This year was the first annual Color Wars.

“The idea was inspired by a senior, Kimia Khatibi – a class [representative], who brought the idea to the council,” Student Council Faculty Adviser Meg Shirk said.

Khatibi was inspired by her friends, whose school had a similar event.

“The goal is number one, to have fun. We also want to have fun competition between the grades and build up school spirit. Through those competitions, hopefully the grades will feel united [as a grade], but also as an entire school,” Shirk said.

Lunch events included tug of war, a relay race and a grade logo design contest.

“I really liked tug of war. [The sophomores] beat the juniors — which was sort of our goal — so we felt really accomplished afterwards,” Lucia Barker ’18 said. “Ten out of ten.”

“It definitely made our grade closer,” Ava Rothenberg ’22 said.

Students also decorated an area of the Courtyard based on the grade’s color the afternoon prior to the event.

“Not only is this a way to earn spirit points, but it’s a great way to have fun,” Class of 2018 representative Maya Winkler said.

“It was fun to see all the grades together — normally high school and middle school don’t do the same things,” Arielle Schultz ’22 said.

“I hope we do this every year and include more spirit days at Archer, so the whole school can get involved,” Barker said.

Piktochart showing the distribution of points awarded at Color Wars. The Class of 2019 won the most points. Infographic made by Cybele Zhang '18.
Graphic showing the distribution of points awarded at Color Wars. The Class of 2019 won the most points. Infographic by Cybele Zhang ’18.

Click on the images below to see more from the events.

Navigate Left
Navigate Right
  • Reanna Wauer ’16, Syd Stone ’16, Sarah Wagner ’16 and Ali Kiley ’16 cheer for the senior class before the activities began. The seniors wore red.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
  • History teacher and Community Service Adviser Theresa Dahlin’s dog Cleo. Cleo wore an orange shirt, brought in by Ava Rothenberg ’22 to support the sixth grade.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
  • Alex Feldman ’18 and Saskia Wong-Smith ’18 prepare for the day’s festivities. “I’m really proud of 2018. We gave it all we got and had fun,” Feldman said.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
  • Freshmen eat snacks from their food table. “It was cool to see everyone coordinated in their colors. I didn’t expect everyone to do it.” Ava Rothenberg ’22 said.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
  • Maddie Arzt ’16 and Sarah Boehm ’16 smile before watching the relay race. The race included challenges like popping a balloon and melting an ice cube.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
  • Fitness teacher Stephanie Ferri prepares the sixth and seventh grade tug of war teams for the game. “Tug of war was really fun,” Arielle Schultz ’22 said. “It was nice to see us all united [as a community]. and show grade spirit.”

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
  • Isabelle Kantz ’16 and Ali Kiley ’16 celebrate the senior class. They came up with phrases like “El Diablo” to support their grade and stick with the red theme.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
  • Sixth grade students design their orange-themed logo.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
Navigate Left
Navigate Right