Students, faculty, and guests gathered to end Spirit Week with a bang at the Community Festa on Nov. 1. Despite the rain, bands, dance teams and off-campus performers put on a successful show, and lunch club booths offered visitors a place to escape from the rain while enjoying entertaining activities. 

Although administrators moved the Festa from May to November for better weather, forecasts for rain raised logistical concerns. “Two days before the Festa, we decided that we would not postpone the Festa regardless of the weather. And for the performance of teams, because it’s dangerous to perform on the stage because it’s really slippery, we thought it would be better to have the tent on stage,” said Ms. Sumin Hong, head of faculty and events services. 

Junior Ryan Chae also said, “Because it was raining a lot, I was afraid of the wire getting wet and being electrocuted while I was performing.” However, thanks to the efforts of DIS staff, led by Ms. Hong, the event continued as planned. 

Nevertheless, numerous lunch clubs gathered to display their cause to the community. Key Club’s spin-the-wheel booth brought joy to the students. Participants spun a wheel and if it landed on a certain box, cream would splash to their faces. “My favorite part was when I did [Key Club’s Booth] with my friend and Mr. Bergan. Mr. Bergan and I got both cream on our faces. Mr. Bergan, just took off his cream and put it in my face. So I had double extra cream on my face,” seventh-grader Elly Song said.

The NAHS booth also garnered attention. Members drew caricatures for five tickets each, and participants enjoyed the accurate drawings of the artists. “My favorite part was drawing small kids, and watching their reactions because they all looked so happy and looked like they were having fun at the Festa. I also really liked drawing teachers because it was a type of experience that I’ve never thought I’d be having with teachers,” sophomore Ginna Kim said.

Mr. Hinkle added a twist to the event with his unique caricatures and joined NAHS’s cause. “As a joke, I was like let me do some caricature drawings because I’m such a horrific artist and people found it funny, but NAHS was able to get a few extra tickets because of that.”

The PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) shaped the direction of the event. They prepared photo booths and arcade games such as shootout games and a claw machine. “The process itself wasn’t difficult because there were parents from the past who knew how to do it. The kids really enjoyed the claw machine last year so we decided to borrow them this year. I’m happy the kids enjoyed it,” said Leah Hwang’s mom, the secretary of the elementary Parent Teachers Organization. 

In addition to the lunch club booths and game stations, students of all ages flaunted their talents. The performances kicked off with the elementary rock band followed by the middle and high schoolers. Bands Kebab Party, Illegal Band, Mach 9, Disband, ASAP and GS25 enthralled the audience with their music. “It was kind of challenging because when you only play the drums, you only have to focus on your own beats. But with the song, your brain is so like everywhere. So it was an interesting experience,” said Azul Rivera Meza, the drummer of “Illegal Band.” 

Other new performances enraptured the audience. Ms. Downie and a group of elementary students put on “The Love Slide”, a flash mob dance. For the first time, the elementary dance team performed at the event, and they danced to two songs: “Download” and “Bones”. “I was thinking what if I slip and what if I do the wrong move. So I had to be more careful and I was nervous,” said Ruby Kim in third grade, a member of the elementary dance team. 

The Jets also invited guests from Kyungpook National University College of Education Elementary School to play the gayageum, a Korean traditional instrument. They captivated the international audience with their proficient musical rhythm. “I was a little embarrassed but it was fun and I felt proud afterward,” Jua Kim in fourth grade said. 

After a row of elementary school performances, the high school Illusion Dance Team set the finale of the feast. They danced to the “SG” remix by DJ Snake and LISA, “Supernova” by Aespa, “Lovesick Girls” remix by Blackpink, and “Midas Touch” by Kiss of Life. 

The Jets’ Spirit Week finale brought the DIS community together with performances and interactive booths that showcased student talent and unity. Contrary to prior concerns, the rain added a special touch to the event. “The performances were very exciting and fun to watch. It was raining, but it was worth going to watch the performances,” said Tomoko Kojima, Minori and Akari Kojima’s mom. “The booth with the caricatures, the one with the basketball hoop, and all the other booths were really nice.”

Gallery • 9 Photos

Esther Choi

Sophomore Yujun Piao plucks his bass with precise fingering. Despite the gloomy day, the band's energizing music hypes the crowd up.