Photo credit: Carmen Muñoz Graham

Setting up drinks, freshmen volunteers prepare the Final Friday food table in the courtyard. Ninth grade Student Council representative Harley Nichols (’29) said Final Friday planning required collective grade effort. “People come do their tasks, and they show up,” Nichols said. “All of ninth grade is in the courtyard for the Final Friday, just helping out and walking around and just keeping people motivated.”

For many students, spring break is a way to unwind after a semester of tests, assignments and projects. From soaking up the sun to sipping on refreshing drinks, they have time to rest and recharge after a busy start to the second semester.

Students got their first glimpse into their spring break with March’s Final Friday celebration Friday, March 27. Created as a way to celebrate the last Friday of the month, the event usually offers activities, music and snacks for all students to enjoy. This month’s Final Friday was hosted by the ninth grade Student Council representatives and took place in the courtyard.

Harley Nichols, one of the three ninth grade Student Council representatives, said the planning consisted of brainstorming the theme a month in advance and arranging activities and snacks such as volleyball, bracelet making, Otter Pops and juice.

“Just general fun to get our school motivated and happy going into spring break,” Nichols said. “We know it’s been a stressful stretch, so we just want to help people out.”

Ninth grade Dean of Culture, Community and Belonging Stephanie Ferri said she collaborated with the ninth grade representatives and offered guidance throughout the planning process. She said she usually shares theme ideas and uses examples from past Final Fridays to help representatives figure out what direction they wanted to head in.

“It’s the day before spring break, so we were just trying to think of what captures colors, flowers,” Ferri said, “just things that embody spring.”

Nichols said the ninth grade representatives’ goal with their Final Friday was to bring the larger Archer community together before time is spent away from school during spring break.

“We don’t really get many opportunities to bond as a whole school,” Nichols said. “I like the idea of having everybody out in the courtyard at the same time and doing fun activities and enjoying sweet treats.”

As Ferri prepared alongside the ninth grade representatives for their Final Friday, she said she encouraged them to be intentional and thoughtful in their planning in order to successfully unite the community.

“We also know that a lot of upper schoolers may go off campus, so also just catering to the middle school population because they’re generally the ones that for sure will be there because they are on campus at lunch,” Ferri said. “So finding different activities for a sixth grader to do or an 11th grader to do.”

Kayla Tait (’32) said Final Friday made her excited about what she was going to do over break, such as going to the beach. Tait said her favorite part of Final Friday was volleyball, as well as receiving free drinks and food.

“There’s people crowding around each other,” Tait said. “All your friends are just together, and you can just play volleyball.”

Ferri said she hoped Final Friday was a “gentle sendoff,” especially with so many teachers wrapping up final assesments and assignments. Ferri hoped the activities would foster school spirit for the last time before spring break.

“Sometimes the only time people get to see their Archer friends is when they’re here on campus because they might live really far away or they might be traveling,” Ferri said, “so it is just a last opportunity to be all together before people go their different directions for break.”