The sophomore class officers at the high school geared up for a Trivia Night on March 14 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the cafeteria. This event was designed to bring students together while raising funds for future class activities.
Janelle Albert ’27, a sophomore class officer, explained that the idea for Trivia Night came from a need to engage students in a fun and competitive way. With the school’s annual dodgeball tournament happening the same week, organizers saw an opportunity to build on the Trivia Night’s momentum.
“People already gonna have teams and friends there, and we just thought of something simple that we could do just to get some money for our class and fundraise for some events such as Elm Bank or Teacher Appreciation,” said Albert.
The Trivia Night was open primarily to freshmen and sophomores, aiming to foster a sense of community among younger students.
“One of our goals was to really build a sense of community between our grades and between students. I feel through this event, we want to see how teams are going to work together and how teamwork is going to build a sense of connection between friends and things of that matter,” Albert said.
Ms. Julie Spilka, faculty advisor for the class of 2027, emphasized the event’s importance in filling the gap between winter and spring sports sessions.
“We’re hoping to have a place to unite the kids a little bit, give them something to do during the break between winter and spring sports. Since there’s so many activities going on once sports start and sports games that kids attend, this is one of the only weekends or time periods that they have that don’t conflict with kids doing other things,” Spilka said.
The trivia night replaced the previously planned talent show due to a lack of participants. It challenged participants with a wide range of general knowledge questions curated by the sophomore class officers. Teams of up to five students signed up in advance for ten dollars or paid fifteen dollars at the door, while individual participants joined for five dollars and were placed into a team.
The sophomore class officers kept track of scores with Mr. Collin Shattuck, assistant principal and MC of the event.
“I’m always glad when I’m able to help the Class Officers with the execution of the event… It seemed like everyone who was playing was having a great time. The game was well-organized and the questions were varied and appropriately challenging,” said Shattuck.
Trivia Night has been held before, including a Zoom version during the pandemic, where freshmen advisories competed in virtual teams.
Albert said, “It’s a chance for students to show some intellectual sides, their knowledge in general trivia, and it goes to help support the student body because it’s gonna raise money for future events.”
Ruby Savarese ’27, a past participant, found it to be both fun and educational.
“I learned more interesting facts and how to resolve arguments when deciding on a final answer. I continued to learn how to work with my teammates. I also wish there was more quantity in questions of all categories, therefore, everyone can participate,” she said.
Organizers worked hard to spread the word through Instagram, posters, and school announcements, ensuring as many students as possible could join in. Whether a student was there to test their knowledge, cheer on friends, or just be part of the experience, the event promised to be a great way to bring students together before the busy spring session began.
Spilka noted that email is becoming less effective in reaching students, so social media has been key to promotion.
“Email used to be our main communication. And we feel like kids don’t really use their email or read all of them because they get so many. So [the class officers] are definitely trying to use Instagram more hanging posters around the school. They try to make an announcement in the Friday morning announcements, but that’s a struggle that we have– trying to really get the word out,” said Spilka.
With this Trivia Night, the sophomore class officers aim to not only raise funds but also create an inclusive environment for students to test their IQ and bond with friends. With the success of the event, the organizers hope to host trivia night again.
