In 2018 the Renaissance organization at Greenwood started a tradition that we all look forward to every year: Winter Wildcat Day (WWD). Last year, due to the pandemic, WWD was canceled. For those of you who haven’t experienced this day, or for those of you who are excited to experience it again, this article will tell you all about what is in store for this year’s WWD.
WWD occurs on the last day before winter break, and this year that day lands on December 22. This last day before break is always an Act-80 day, a.k.a. a half-day. Before WWD was a thing, students would experience a normal half-day with their classes and then go home at noon. Now, we get to participate in holiday activities, drink hot cocoa, play Pictionary, participate in tournaments, play Just-Dance, and of course, the best part, we get to wear festive pajama pants.
On December 2 of this year, many students participated in Deck the Halls and decorated teachers’ doors, while some decorated the halls with garland, Christmas trees, banners, and snowflakes. We listened to holiday music and drank hot cocoa while we worked, and everyone had a blast. Renaissance organized this event and will be organizing WWD as well, so if Deck the Halls was so awesome, your mind will be blown at this year’s WWD.
Mrs. Novinger and Mrs. Miller are the advisers for this organization, so I asked them a few questions regarding the planning for this year’s WWD:
What are you most excited about?
Mrs. Novinger: “Seeing our music groups perform :)”
Mrs. Miller: “We are just really happy for the opportunity to hold the event for students this year, and I know that faculty members are very excited about planning activities for the day. Many of our well-liked activities are returning and we have several new ones planned as well.”
How is this year different from previous years?
Mrs. Novinger: “Well, COVID-19 of course makes it trickier with contact tracing and trying to have flexibility in what students can do/attend.”
Mrs. Miller: “All students will have an opportunity to hear the jazz band and swing choir perform in the morning rather than at lunch, which affords members more time to participate in activities. Mrs. Davis, Mr. Watts, and their students put so much work into these performances, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to support them.”
I also interviewed several students, specifically those who have experienced WWD in the past, to gauge what their expectations were for this year.
What was your favorite part of WWD in past years?
Ava Swann: “Having all the options of different activities, and being able to do whatever you want.”
Rocky Shuler: “I always enjoyed the general format of being able to travel around to different classrooms and doing whatever activities were there. It was a nice way to relax with others and talk to the teachers about things other than schoolwork.”
Siera Clegg: “Taking pictures with friends.”
What was your favorite activity?
Spencer Watts: “Tying the blankets for nursing homes.”
Lia Zurenko: “Playing just dance because it was super fun to dance with my friends and listen to our favorite songs.”
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Rocky Shuler: “Anticipating new activities not seen in previous years and hearing the holiday music.”
Lia Zurenko: “Generally, just having a Wildcat Day period. It’s going to be super refreshing and fun to experience something like Wildcat Day again that we used to do before COVID-19.”
Ava Swann: “Playing Pictionary with Mrs. G and a few of my friends, because it was a small group and we had fun.”
Spencer Watts: “Not having to miss activities for the swing choir performance.”
From my personal experience, Winter Wildcat Day has always been a blast and from what I’ve heard, this year will be better than ever. Get your pajama pants ready, because December 22 is coming up quickly.
A big thank you to everyone who participated in this interview.
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