List of 6 items.

• Back to School Bash: A Bash-ing Success

  
  

  
  The Big H came alive for our annual Back to School Bash, where student performances, tasty treats, and community spirit combined for a memorable evening under the stars. The variety of acts kept everyone entertained, from amazing musical performances to Peaches' improv games that had everyone laughing. And of course, the legendary Teacher Band closed out the night in style – a tradition many of us hope will continue!

  
  While the Big H has been our traditional spot because it creates that cozy, uniquely Hopkins atmosphere, this year's incredible turnout (yay!) made things a bit snug. "The area around the H is a little small and squeezing into it was a little uncomfortable," one student observed. Another reminded us that "BTSB in 2021 had performances on the Thompson steps area and everyone stood on the quad, and that was pretty cool/fun." Given the growing popularity of the event (which we love to see!), we're considering following the success of last spring's Off to Summer Bash by moving to the quad to give everyone more space to spread out and enjoy the shows.

  
  The performances themselves were a huge hit, especially the Teacher Band – "I think the teacher band should always be closing," one student insisted, and many agreed! Though we did have some technical challenges: "The mics were unreliable" was a common theme, and we're working to make sure the sound system is more functional next year. Some creative suggestions for future events included "more poetry/acting," "yard games like cornhole," and even "bouncy castles" (we appreciate the ambition!).

  
  Despite the room for growth, I think we can all agree that the Bash was an amazing time to spend the night as a school community. As one student summed it up: "The overall vibes from everyone and everything were all very positive, and I would go back again." That kind of student culture is what Student Council looks to encourage, and we are glad that people feel happy at our events.

• Spirit Week Sets the Tone

  
  October kicked off with an energetic Spirit Week that saw Hopkins' halls come alive with themed celebrations. From cozy PJ Day to creative Mismatch Day, students embraced each theme with enthusiasm. Beach Day brought summer vibes to autumn, while the traditional Maroon and Grey Day united the community in school pride. This year's participation soared thanks to an engaging social media campaign that awarded points for spirited photos with teachers and interactive Instagram polls. A special shoutout to the seniors who clinched a dramatic last-minute victory, edging out the determined freshmen by an astonishing 445 points.

• Homecoming Dance

  Our fall Homecoming Dance transformed the middle gym into a vibrant celebration space where Hopkins students came together for a night filled with music, memories, and snacks.  The photo booth was definitely a highlight of the evening, with friends lining up to capture both silly and sweet moments together. (Though some of you cleverly suggested adding Polaroids next time to avoid the lines – we love that idea!)
  
  You all shared some amazing feedback that's helping us plan even better dances for the future! Some creative suggestions included adding superlatives for categories like "best dressed" and "life of the party," creating a chill area where people can actually hear each other talk, and even having HopTV conduct interviews during the dance. The music sparked lots of discussion too, and we're excited to explore ways to incorporate more student input into our playlists for future events to keep the dance floor energy high all night long.
  
  Let's talk about the snacks and drinks situation – we saw all your comments about the $1 charge for refreshments on top of ticket prices (and yes, we caught that "greedy poopy faces" comment – we promise we're not trying to nickel and dime anyone! 😆). Here's the scoop: Homecoming is actually one of Student Council's main fundraisers, helping us provide free events throughout the year like those delicious Pumpkin Bowl donuts and Field Day activities. We charged for snacks and drinks mainly to prevent waste – in previous years, we noticed lots of unopened drinks and untouched snacks left behind when everything was free. That said, we hear you! We're brainstorming other solutions that could work better for everyone, like possibly including some refreshments in the ticket price while keeping extra snacks available for purchase.

• Pumpkin Bowl: Games Old and New

  
  
  

  The beloved Pumpkin Bowl tradition continued to delight the Hopkins community with a perfect blend of classic activities and creative new additions. Students showcased their artistic talents at pumpkin painting stations and competed in the always-entertaining donut-on-a-string challenges. The event wasn't without its memorable moments and constructive feedback. Students particularly loved the new "cider mile" relay race, which one participant enthusiastically described as "chaos, but in a good way!" The sight of classmates attempting to sprint after chugging apple cider provided plenty of entertainment, though some suggested implementing stricter rules to prevent what one student playfully called "if you're not cheating, you're not trying" tactics.

   

  The traditional donut-on-a-string competition sparked particularly lively feedback, with one student noting that "sharing donuts with siblings is gross!" and another pointing out that "you can never tell who wins, are they cheating, takes long to set up, messy. Audience can't see." While the event has been a longstanding tradition emphasizing senior-sibling bonds, StuCo is actively looking to replace it with something more engaging. "We'd love to hear ideas for new activities that still capture that special senior-sibling connection," says Alexander Skula, Student Council President. "Maybe a three-legged race or another cooperative challenge that's both more visible for the audience and more fun for participants."

• CFBF: A New Name with the Old Mission

  
  

  
  Perhaps the most significant change this fall was the transformation of the Connecticut Food Bank Fundraiser (CFBF). While the organization we support is now called Connecticut Foodshare, we kept the familiar CFBF acronym – it's become part of Hopkins tradition, with a ring to it that resonates throughout our community.
  By shifting from counting volunteer hours to measuring grade participation, we aimed to make the fundraiser more inclusive and engaging. The results speak for themselves – participation more than doubled, with over 10% of students in most grades getting involved, compared to previous years' 5% average.
  
  

  “We wanted to create a system that encouraged everyone to contribute, even in small ways,” explains Student Council President Alexander Skula. “With traditional street fundraising becoming more challenging – fewer people carry cash these days, and many stores have new policies about fundraising outside their locations – we needed to adapt. Whether it's organizing a team dinner at a participating restaurant or helping at a food bank, every effort counts toward fighting food insecurity in our state.” While CFBF at its core remains the same, Student Council is rolling out gradual changes and partnerships to evolve the initiative in the post-pandemic landscape, ensuring CFBF can continue making a difference for years to come.
  
  

  Speaking of CFBF, it is running through Friday, December 20th! Fundraising for just 1 hour will add you as a contributor for your grade, raising your class’s percentage. Additionally, we will be selling waffles every Friday before break (and Thursday, December 19th), and if you can not make it out to street fundraising, you can sign up to volunteer to sell waffles and still have your name counted for your grade. 

• Looking Forward

  With the busy fall season wrapped up, StuCo is excited to shift focus toward strengthening student involvement in school decision-making. Plans are underway to create and build the proposal system, making it easier for students to share their ideas and contribute to positive changes at Hopkins. The council is also working to build stronger connections with faculty members to help turn student suggestions into reality.
  
  StuCo takes pride in listening to student feedback and using it to improve future events. From serious suggestions about better microphone systems to humorous requests for "more drinks" and "foooooooood please," every comment helps shape our events. For example, this year's successful CFBF restructuring came directly from student input, and the new percentage-based system has already doubled participation rates. Similarly, feedback from previous Pumpkin Bowls led to this year's addition of the popular cider mile and pumpkin bowling events.