Four traditionally separate events placed on same October Friday

For the first time four annual events—the Fall Family Festival, the Jog-A-Thon, the Chalk Mural and Homecoming—will all be held on the same day: Friday, Oct. 18.

The Parents’ Association (PA), which coordinates many events, including the Jog-A-Thon and the Fall Family Festival, made the decision to have them on the same day.

Lindsey Sackheim, president of the PA, said that the Jog-A-Thon and the Fall Family Festival were combined with the other two events for many reasons.

“The PA board members want to strengthen community spirit by having all of the grades and parents come together to celebrate SCDS in one fun-filled day instead of taking away time from academics,” Sackheim said.

The PA’s reasoning for the change was “simple,” she said: The Jog-A-Thon has been very successful over the years.

“It is the PA’s largest fundraiser overall,” Sackheim said. “As the event evolves, the better the outcome is.”

The Fall Family Festival, however, hasn’t been as successful.

“The Fall Family Festival (traditionally held on a Saturday) has been competing for attendance with Saturday club sports and extracurricular activities,” Sackheim said.

So adding these two events to the day of Homecoming and the Chalk Mural seems like a great idea, right? Not for the students who are involved in more than one event.

High-school students will have to juggle running in the Jog-A-Thon, drawing the Chalk Mural, playing in the Jazz Band for the Homecoming pep rally, helping the Student Council with the Fall Family Festival and playing in the Homecoming games.

Sophomore Adam Ketchum—who will be participating in the Jog-A-Thon, the Chalk Mural, the Fall Family Festival and the varsity boys’ soccer game—isn’t looking forward to the changes.

“I think that it’s going to take away attention from the games,” Ketchum said.

Art teacher Patricia Kelly, adviser of the Chalk Mural, has mixed feelings about the busy day.

“Square masters will definitely have to come to the Chalk Mural since they are the leaders, but I do understand that there are other events that they have to attend as well,” Kelly said.

Artists will also have to go to the other events covered in chalk.

Kelly said she decided that the Chalk Mural should be on Oct. 18, because she wanted to continue the new tradition of having the Chalk Mural be on a Friday, instead of on a Thursday, as it was in the past.

Junior Dominic Stephen is a square master in the Chalk Mural. Although it will be a busy day, Stephen hopes “that the other events will attract more viewers to the mural.”

Kelly agrees. “Since people will already be on campus (for Homecoming and the Fall Family Festival), it will be easier for them to go to the parking lot and check it out,” she said.

As if these events weren’t enough, many high-school students will also have regular classes.

However, square masters are allowed to miss class if they are helping draw the Chalk Mural.

Senior Sydney Jackson will be missing class time on Oct. 18 since she will be helping draw the Chalk Mural.

Jackson, however, isn’t sure if she will be able to help at the Fall Family Festival, as she has done in the past.

“I will be taking pictures for the yearbook and playing with the (varsity) volleyball team after school, so I’m not sure if I will have enough time to work the booths,” Jackson said.

Although the outcome of the events of Oct. 18 remain to be seen, Kelly said that in the past, when several events were held on the same day, “it hasn’t always been the best way.”

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