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Fun Traditions at St. Agnes

By Anika Shethia, St. Agnes Academy, School Buzz Reporter | January 23, 2020

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Gargi Rakhade (‘23) and Urvi Basu (‘23) hang out in the petting zoo on Veritas Vacation Day.

Last Friday, St. Agnes Academy held its annual International Food Festival, as well as its Neon Pep Rally. Little did the students and teachers know that there was one more surprise in store for them - Veritas Vacation Day! Veritas Vacation Day, or VVD, is a St. Agnes tradition where the school is surprised, on a random school day with fun activities like games, bouncy houses, and more. Students get to skip class and enjoy the day, and what was even better is that this year there was the bonus of the plethora of food from across the globe.

It all started when students were assembled into the auditorium where the Neon Pep Rally was held. The winter sports and activities were mentioned, and each team performed a humorous skit. This was just the beginning of the fun. At the end of the pep rally, an announcement was made on the large screens declaring that it was VVD! Suddenly, the whole auditorium was enveloped in the screams and laughter of 1000 students, plus the worried and concerned mumbles of teachers trying to work through their schedules! The students were ready to forget about their stressful school work.

Karina Davis (‘23), was shocked and excited about the day. She described the day as "perfectly timed and a stress-relieving way to start the weekend!"

When lunchtime came around, even more enthusiasm erupted. Everybody was eager to find some delicious eats. The students were dismissed by grade levels to start tasting. From classic Polish pierogis to Vietnamese Pho noodles, the International Food Festival had a variety of foods to savor.

Students were able to try new foods. Leah Elackatt (‘23) says she loved the sushi. "I had never tried sushi before, and I had no idea what I was missing!"

I was able to try dumplings, gnocchi, Alfajores, and more. I’m so excited to experience my next International Food Festival and continue to try new dishes each year.

VVD, the Neon Pep Rally, and the International Food Festival allow students to take a breather from the rigorous schoolwork and immerse themselves in new cultures. Events like these make St. Agnes the place to be!