Students, parents, and faculty assembled to enjoy the annual festa on Sept. 27. Dance teams, rock bands, traditional Sri Lankan performance, and ukulele alumni enthralled the audience with a dynamic showcase, while lunch club booths and game stations added to the joy.

Unlike the unexpected rain last year, the event successfully kicked off under clear skies. Mini Jets and the elementary dance team opened the festival through synchronized, energetic dance routines.“It was so fun [because] I got to perform on stage as Mini Jets. It was so exciting, and I want to do it again next year,” second grader Erin Son said. 

Instead of the usual off-campus performances from Haeseo Elementary School, junior Mihini Edirisinghe’s traditional Sri-Lankan dance facilitated cultural exchange. With only three weeks of preparation, Edirisinghe put together the entire performance.“I emailed Mr. Jolly about doing a Sri lankan dance and he really liked the idea. My grandma helped me with my dance online. She taught me how to dance some steps and also how to wear the clothing. It was fun and I hope to do [it] next year as well,” Edirisinghe said.  

In addition to the diverse line-up, the Ukulele alumni performed a nostalgic piece reflecting upon their time as club members eight years ago. “Well, most of us had forgotten how to play the ukulele, but once we started practicing, it slowly came back. It was kind of funny realizing we’re high schoolers now, not little kids, but we could still pick it up and play together and it felt nostalgic while digging through my old music sheets,” sophomore Joe Chambless said. 

At the same time, the High School Illusion Dance Team highlighted the festival’s peak with their powerful dance sequences to “I’m Legit” by Nicki Minaj, Caira, “Dirty Work” by Aespa, “Supernatural” by New Jeans and “Baggy Jeans” by NCT U. “Since we didn’t have much time to prepare, we had to make time outside of school. It was more unorganized than we expected, but we worked together and our cooperation skills really improved,” junior Lucy Kim said. 

Alongside continuous musical performances, lunch clubs promoted their causes through interactive activities, which encouraged greater participation this year as clubs now could keep the revenue they earned. In the past, DIS donated Festa funds to an off-campus charity. “I think moving the Festa earlier in the school year provided a lot more opportunity for the student groups to be able to have starting funds to be able to create events and activities for the school community throughout the year,” Mr. Jolly said. 

The new policy facilitates fundraising for future events. “Personally, I think not donating this year is okay because it allows the club members to benefit directly from their efforts. However, at the same time, I believe we should keep in mind the importance of giving back, so maybe we can balance both approaches in the future,” YANA’s (You Are Not Alone) president Christine Mason in 12th grade said. 

Next to the cafeteria, the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) attracted students to the game station by dressing in playful costumes, adding fresh energy to the community. “This year, we tried wearing costumes from ‘Squid Game’ for the first time, and I loved it because it grabbed the kids’ attention at our game booth. This year, although there were lots of lunch club booths, everything seemed well organized and looked very nice,” sixth grader Jennie Kim‘s dad said. 

Meanwhile, the busking club showcased its talents between main stage sets. Their performances united the community through music and shared experience. “I just wanted students to have as many opportunities to perform in front of people so that they can gain more confidence. But I was happy because I saw that a lot of them are actually enjoying it,” Mr. Park said. 

Students also enjoyed the new opportunity, setting sights on further improvements for next year. “I was kind of nervous, even though we had a lot of practice, because this is the first time I’ve been performing to every student in our school. Still, if you keep practicing and performing in front of crowds, you’ll get more confident with your singing. So I think I did a very good job,” fifth grader Adela Lee said. 

At the finale, students of all ages showed off their musical talents. The long-awaited return of the teacher band Powerskool, followed by performances from high school bands Phall, SONAGI, Sundae, Mach 10 and ASAP capped the day on a high note. 

Through an array of performances and student-run activities, the event fostered a renewed sense of connection among the school community. “It was too hot, but I overall enjoyed the vibe and atmosphere of my last Festa. I think it was successful and will miss this great event after I go to college,” senior Ryan Chae said.

Gallery • 14 Photos

Esther Choi

The Jets gather on the field to enjoy the Rock Bands’ performances, cheering and singing along. Students seize the moment, capturing new memories with friends under the afternoon sun.