As the sun emerged and the stress of the week faded with the arrival of the long weekend, Uppers enjoyed a break at this year’s annual Upper Carnival. Held on Friday, following Upper and Senior EBI, the event featured food from various vendors, fun activities, and a sense of community. The event, a cherished tradition for Uppers, created a joyful atmosphere where students could enjoy each other’s company.
From indulging in ice cream to soaking up the sun, the shared experience brought a lightheartedness that stood out amid a usual school day. For many, the chance to pause and celebrate together was just as meaningful as the event itself.
“I was really interested in going to Upper Carnival because it’s an annual event for Upper year. It’s really fun giving people the opportunity to take a break and go do something fun. It was a post-ASM high. A lot of people seemed happy to just be with their friends, eating ice cream, and just spending time outside before heading over to lunch,” said Magdalena Mercado ’26.
Nneka Ezeike ’26 shared that her event highlight was getting to see classmates, even if just in passing, while enjoying the food and energy of the event.
“My favorite part was the food, and just being able to see people in my grade, even for a brief second. Events like these have the goal of creating community, and I think they succeed. I just wish that it were on a green space, like maybe on the lawn, ” said Ezeike.
Dylan Siegel ’26 described a strong sense of community throughout the event, noting how the school’s initiatives helped build that friendly atmosphere. Siegel noted that it wasn’t just the activities themselves, but the way they brought people together, that made the afternoon feel both meaningful and fun.
“The sense of community was super robust — everyone was smiling, talking to one another, and just enjoying each other’s company. The activities that the school put on, such as face painting and the ice cream truck, helped to facilitate this,” said Siegel.
While the fried dough was a hit, it was the low-pressure, shared experience with friends that made the afternoon stand out. Francesca Dizon ’26 suggested that gatherings like this shouldn’t be rare.
“The event was a good relief from stress, and it’s fun to spend time with friends in a communal way. These could happen a bit more often,” said Dizon.
