By: Juliet Bu ‘23, Feature Editor

Photo Courtesy of the Yearbook

When describing traditions at NA, you’d probably throw in words like ‘Back to School Barbeque’ and ‘Food Truck Day’. These events are planned by our  School Council. Council brings together the community in a search for chocolate on Chocolate Day and as an army of red and black during Spirit Week. But when a global pandemic hits, making it impossible for our school of 700+ faculty and students to physically come together, what happens? 

The 2020-2021 school year was marked by frequent transitions between learning in person and over Zoom. With our community spread out through the realms of Newark Academy and remote learning, it was impossible for Council to run their usual events. Class of 2025 President Abby Hsu says, “It was definitely easier to plan events pre-COVID: we could gather in large groups, which allowed the community to appreciate each other’s company and enjoy the NA culture.” 

COVID constraints therefore forced Student Council to get creative, and our representatives pulled through. Last year featured new events like tie-dye day, Amateur Classes, and spike ball tournaments. Despite the initial inconvenience of COVID restrictions, Student Council President Stella Gilbert says, “We’ve had to adjust so much and take advantage of all the space NA has, and this has allowed us to see the benefits of other locations on campus.” Take the fire road for example: the success of events like Chalk and Pops helped Council discover the potential of the fire road, and they plan to use this space for future events.

Furthermore, in the past year, Council has taken full advantage of digital tools, making events more accessible and efficient. For Spirit Week 2020, Council was able to livestream all the sporting events and competitions. Having a digital platform for spectators increased viewership, maintained spirit, and encouraged full engagement with the week’s festivities. 

Having to reimagine a majority of school events was not an easy task for Council, despite how seamless it may have looked. Class of 2024 President Lily Sternlieb says, “[Planning events] can be a big responsibility because we want people to have fun, while also staying safe. But ultimately, I think [last year] has made School Council and NA stronger.”

Council is prepared to bring back pre-COVID events safely, and they are well-equipped to deal with the uncertainty of COVID. Abby Hsu ‘25 says, “We have more confidence this year to plan big events ahead of time by keeping our options open and having a back-up plan.” 

This year, Council is focused on boosting spirit and hosting fun events for the community. Class of 2022 President Luke Waskow says, “I am excited for this year because although COVID still looms over the school, I am in a position to bring an energetic and spirited year to the whole community.” This mindset is certainly representative of Council’s overall attitude this year. Class of 2023 President Harold Fullilove reassures us: “We have a really tough council this year that won’t back down no matter what”. 

The Back to School Barbeque started off this year’s Council events with a bang, setting the stage for the numerous upcoming Council events to look forward to.  First, let’s get pumped for Spirit Week (10/7-10/15), a week of themed dress up days and grade competitions! Homecoming, on Saturday, October 16th, ends Spirit Week with a day of carnival-style activities followed by the Upper School Homecoming Dance at night. Since the class of 2022 missed a formal junior prom, this year’s Homecoming dance will be reimagined as a semi-formal event featuring seasonal decorations, food, and a DJ. NA can also expect to see the return of classic events, including seasonal pep rallies, Food Truck Day, Apple Day, and Chocolate Day. 

This year’s events are symbolic of our community strength; Council’s ability to return to tradition shows Newark Academy’s resilience during COVID because of our adherence to safety protocols and high vaccination rate. While we are not at the end of the pandemic tunnel yet, it is exciting to be able to gather together once again and enjoy our iconic Council events. Emily Swope ‘22 puts it perfectly: “After missing out on a lot of traditions the last few years, I feel extra fortunate and grateful for Council’s work and I’m looking forward to a great year!”