No Bashing The Back To School Bash
The Back to School Bash, a relatively new Western Reserve Academy tradition, increases yearly in anticipation. Parents at WRA devoted an abundance of time to preparing and executing this successful event. This year it featured pizza, a hula hoop contest and, of course, the trusty rocket car. Post-COVID, students were ecstatic to convene as a whole community again, and this event encouraged Pioneers to go out and practice school spirit.
A student favorite (as usual) was the food. The Lux food truck had a busy night serving its delicious floats: vanilla ice cream treats soaked in the soda flavor of your choice. These delicious floats allowed our international students to try a classic American treat. From a student’s perspective, Alice Kim ’24 valued her time at the Back to School Bash; she enjoyed the popcorn she shared with friends. Jessica Sun ’24 appreciated the sweet cotton candy she munched on while walking around campus. We Pioneers have a tendency to show up for free school-provided snacks, and this event was no exception to this pattern.
The rocket car is one of the most advertised components of the Back to School Bash, and for many students, the rocket car was certainly the highlight of the night. Jessica Wu ’24 was one of the students who looked forward to riding said rocket car. She was not disappointed. She loved seeing the houses fly by while feeling the cool gusts of wind in the back seat. It was fun to also see Hudson residents waving at her. Christine Baek ’24 claimed that the rocket car was also one of the best parts of her afternoon. She claimed the vibrant lights were beautiful to admire in the night sky. They made waiting in line worth it. Although a pretty unusual aspect of the night, the rocket car remains a staple.
On the fields, WRA offered classic games. These games included: cornhole, volleyball, Jenga, spikeball, hoola hooping and much more. We saw students from all grades on the fields. Many students simply spent time lying on the lush grass and watching the sunset. WRA has a lot of sunset lovers, so many people enjoyed this sight simultaneously with the celebration. Other students also engaged in a competitive volleyball tournament. Donald ’23 said he enjoyed that Back to School Bash because it offered a diverse enough range of activities so that everyone enjoys themselves. The Back to School Bash really pulled a variety of students across the grades. It was the perfect first school event. It allowed the school to enjoy one more summer night, as the season ended. Students are looking foward to more events hosted by the Parents Association at WRA like the Bicknell Bonanza!
This event provided freshmen with the opportunity to start off their school year with a great social event, while seniors were able to begin celebrating their last year here. As seniors depart WRA, they will carry the core memories made at these kinds of fun festivities. The freshman class, new to campus and the school overall, saw what classic school events look like. All were able to go out and enjoy the Back to School Bash. Ranging from fun activities to delicious food provided by parents and the Lux Truck, the Back to School Bash had something of interest for everyone. It allowed students to enjoy one last summer night (stress-free) before the quick tempo of the school year commenced.
– Charlotte German ’26
The Reserve Record 