The Winter Carnival at Goffstown High School is a week-long competition between classes that includes artistic, athletic, and participation-based events. Students earn points for their class through a skit performance, dress-up themes each day of the week, and community service like a food drive. This year, the seniors won the overall competition by placing first in the skit, third in dress-up days, and earning extra points from winning the food drive. The athletic portion featured competitions in games like ping pong, volleyball, and tug-of-war where the seniors found success. Though classes competed head-to-head, the Winter Carnival brought the whole school together in school spirit.

1. The onlythingstandingbetweenastudentandaweekof vacationis the WinterCarnival.The
daysleadingupto the breakare filledwithdressupcompetitions andsportingevents,similartothose
of Homecomingweek.However,askanystudentandmany will agree thatWinterCarnival cannot only
be more exciting,butmore competitive compared tothe fall assembly.Startinginlate November,
studentshave beencompetingtowinChampionof the Games,whichwasrevealedduringthe main
assemblyonFebruary 21st
.
In orderto be the winnerof WinterCarnival,the objectistoget the mostpoints for yourclass.
Pointsare earnedthroughfourcategories, the artisticandthe athleticevents,whichoccurduringthe
mainassemblyonFriday,dressupdayswhich take place throughoutthe week,andthe amountof
participationincommunityservice.
For the artisticportionof the competition,eachclassisaskedtoperform a skitduringthe
assembly,infrontof a panel of judges.The gradeswere eachgivenamovie tobringto life,creatinga10
minute act featuringcostumesandaset.Thisyear the Freshman tackledthe film“JustGoWithit”, the
Sophomores reenacted“Life aswe Know it”,the Juniorspulledtogethertocreate “50 FirstDates”,and
thisyear’swinningskit,“Crazy,Stupid,Love”wasputonby the Seniors. The weeksittooktocreate the
skitspaidoff,withmany leavingthe audience institches andapplause.
One majorway classesearnpointsisthroughDressUp days.These are daysduringthe week,in
whichstudents wearclothingcorrespondingwiththatschool day’stheme.ThisyearGoffstownHigh
School washit withan unexpectedsnowdayleavingMondayto Camouflage,thenWednesdaywas
College Gear,ThursdaywasFancyDay, and finallyFriday wasclasscolors.The winnersof the dress-up
daysportioncame to a tie betweenthe Freshman drapedinblack andthe Juniors ina sea of maroon,
Sophomorescame insecond sportingavibrantpink,andSeniorstookthirdplace wearingthe classic
white.
Thisyear the School decidedtouse the competitionasaway to give backto the community.In
November,the school holdsitsannual CanFoodDrive where studentsfromeverygrade bringincanned
foodsto helpthe NewHampshire FoodBank.Thisyearthe StudentCouncil,whooverseesthe Winter
Carnival,gotcreative and allowedawayfor studentsto notonly helpthose inneed,but alsohelpearn
theirclasswintercarnival points.The classthatbroughtin the mostcans received bothacomplimentary
breakfastandextrapointsthatwouldgo towardswintercarnival. Thisyear’sCanFoodDrive winners
were the Seniors, whose additional points helpedbringthemtovictoryinthe WinterCarnival
competition. A fewstudentsalsodecidedtogetinon the actionand create a shoe drive forthose in
need.Once againthe competitivestudentswere incentivizedtobringinshoestohelpthemearnpoints
for theirgrade’s overall WinterCarnival score.
The athleticportioniseasilythe most anticipated partof the games.Students canreceive points
by placingineventssuchasPingPong, JustDance, Volleyball,Dodge ball,andevenTug- of-War. This
yearSeniorsfoundtheirwaytoalmosteveryeventvictory. Juniorsfoundsuccessinboththe girlsping
pongand tug-of-war. Some of the biggest competitors though,are the entire classesthemselves.Each
classwas foundchantingthe name of the teamtheywantedtowin.The cheeringfromthe stands

2. provided students the opportunitytosupporttheirgrade,while testingthe strengthof the opposing
team.
Eventhoughall gradesfindthemselvesheadtoheadwithone another,the WinterCarnival can
still bringeveryonetogetherwithpride.Youcan even findGoffstownAlumni spectatingandsupporting
friends,family,and the HighSchool,all inthe funthe games.Withthe final standingsputtingthe Seniors
on top,Juniorsinsecond,Sophomoresinthird,andFreshmaninfourth,all effortswere appreciated.
Withall the school spiritand communityservice thatwentintothisevent,Iwouldsaythateveryone
came outof the competitionawinner.