The Scoop on the History of the Senior Fountain Jump
June 1, 2023
After the Advanced Study Humanities Symposium Friday, May 19, seniors headed to the courtyard to partake in the fountain jump tradition, where each student got drenched in the fountain’s water. As this tradition has been around almost the entire school’s history, The Oracle sat down with Associate Head of School Karen Pavliscak, English Department Chair Brian Wogensen and theater teacher and 10th grade dean Tracy Poverstein to reflect on the origins of the tradition and how it has changed over the 23 years of they have worked at Archer.
Colorful foam water guns rest beside the star fountain in the courtyard. After the Advanced Study Humanities Symposium, seniors gathered in the courtyard Friday, May 19, to partake in the fountain jump tradition.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
Marin Terry (’23) fills a water gun while others wait beside the fountain. While water guns were not always included in the tradition, COVID-19 and social distancing caused the administration think of new ways to celebrate the fountain jump, and they later became a staple in the tradition.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
The Class of 2023 cheer as they wait around the fountain. Seniors waited until 3 p.m. before they hopped into the fountain, symbolizing the end of their academic school year.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
Rose Chuck (’23) sprays water at Gizelle Moran (’23) while inside the fountain. Associate Head of School Karen Pavliscak said no senior has left Archer without fountain water, signifying how inclusive the tradition is.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
Seniors hug senior dean Stephanie Nicolard closely toward the end of the fountain jump. Nicolard has been the Class of 2023’s dean for 11th and 12th grade and taught many of them in ninth grade English.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
Treasure Brown (’23) aims her water gun at the students in the fountain. Seniors jumped in the fountain and sprayed one another with water before they headed onto the early bus at 3:15 p.m., beginning their weekend with a special moment as a grade.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
Audrey DeUgarte (’23), Rachel Heyman (’23), Isabelle Verdery (’23) and Stella Lyne (’23) get sprayed with water while Mia Makower (’23) took a photo. Before students headed into the fountain, the facilities staff cleaned its interior and filled the fountain with new water, ensuring the tradition can be safe and enjoyable.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
Sara Steiner (’23) and Emma Frank (’23) pose for a photo while Zoe Griffin (’23) shoots her water gun at another senior. English Department Chair and English teacher Brian Wogensen said, now that the Class of 2023 have taken part in the fountain jump this year, they are connected to every other senior class who has graduated from Archer.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
A group of seniors poses for a photo after being drenched in water. The fountain jump marked the beginning of the end for the senior class, and the next week was filled with senior-focused activities to honor the graduating class before their commencement the next Friday.
Photo credit: Maia Alvarez
Kristin Taylor • Jun 6, 2023 at 10:00 am
I so loved hearing this conversation about the beloved fountain-jump tradition! However, I think it wasn’t the pioneering class who started the fountain jump, primarily because the fountain was dry before Ms. English had it restored when she became head of school in 2008. I don’t know if it was 2008 or 2009, but I remember the first time the seniors spontaneously ran out and jumped into the fountain (despite all of our concerns that they would slip and hurt themselves!), and I remember us talking about it being something that had never happened before. I started at Archer in 2006-2007, so I believe it happened after that. So easy for this history to be fuzzy since it then became an annual tradition!