From December 2nd to 7th, ASG (Associated Student Government) put on its first events for Irvington’s annual Winter Week. Each day of the week featured either a crafting activity, service event, or dress-up day, all to encourage student involvement and school spirit.
To kick off the festive week, Monday featured a heartwarming “Winter Wishes” event during lunch. Students were invited to write their anonymous winter wishes on paper snowflakes, which were later displayed in the courtyard. The bulletin board was transformed into a winter wonderland with snow-like paper and cheerful penguin cutouts, adding to the holiday spirit.
On Tuesday, ASG launched a toy drive, setting up donation stations in the cafeteria and library. Students and staff contributed toys, which will be distributed to children in need just in time for Christmas.
The festivities continued on Wednesday and Thursday during Flex. On Wednesday, ASG distributed letters for students to write heartfelt messages to Make-a-Wish patients, spreading hope and positivity. Thursday brought the much-anticipated annual gingerbread house-building contest, co-hosted by ASG and the Girls in STEM Club. Participants, grouped in teams of four, had 25 minutes to construct their gingerbread houses, which were later judged for durability and creativity. The Girls in STEM Club provided all the materials and capped off the event by treating participants to cups of hot chocolate.
The contest saw an impressive turnout this year. Reflecting on lessons learned from last year, when a shortage of materials posed challenges, the organizers ensured there were ample supplies for everyone, making the event smoother and more enjoyable for all involved.
The week’s events successfully fostered a sense of community, holiday cheer, and giving, setting a joyful tone for the rest of the season.
Lashya Gillella (10), a Girls in STEM offier, added, “This event has been going on for a few years, so we wanted to continue the tradition. It was really fun to plan together, and it ended up being one of our biggest events this year.”
On Friday morning, ASG handed out small yellow ribbons to support childhood cancer awareness, which would be the cause that Irvington would be supporting during next week’s coin drive.
Wearing a yellow ribbon honors those who have fought for cancer, and supports the continued research and treatment of the disease. During lunch, ASG continued to pass out yellow ribbons, along with cookies to those wearing yellow colors.
Michelle Ngyuen (11), who worked on planning the events this week, expressed, “My favorite event this week was definitely handing out gold ribbons. It was amazing to walk around campus and see a bunch of students wearing them.” Similar to Nguyen, students at Irvington expressed the unity felt through the array of gold ribbons on campus.
With the first week of Winter Week wrapped up, ASG has been eagerly preparing for the upcoming events in Week 2, with the rally being a much-anticipated highlight.
Faizah Khan (10) shared her excitement: “I love the rallies. They’re always really entertaining and full of school spirit.”
Nguyen, a member of the rally crew, added, “I’m looking forward to the winter rally next week. I’m excited to help out backstage and see the new performances.”
The Winter Week festivities showcased the student body’s creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm for school events. Week 2 promises even more excitement, featuring themed dress-up days, including PJ Day and Disney Merch Day, and culminating with the highly anticipated winter rally during Flex.
With energy and enthusiasm building, students at Irvington are ready to embrace another week of fun, spirit, and community. Thanks to ASG’s hard work and planning, Winter Week continues to bring the school together, spreading joy and holiday cheer as the semester draws to a close.
