Duchesne Academy Unity Day 2015

Upper School Dean of Students Jill Hess addresses students at the Unity Day closing-prayer service. 

Following a morning mass, Duchesne Academy of The Sacred Heart Upper School students traded their navy wool vests for brightly colored T-shirts and Nike shorts and headed into the theater to begin the day’s festivities. Upper School president Macarena Martinez addressed the student body before passing the stage off to junior class president Lucia Interiano, who proceeded to read off the day’s fun-filled agenda.

First up was the highly anticipated dance-off. Each class chose 10 students to represent it in the competition, which was made up of the sophomore class vs. the junior class, and the freshman class vs. the senior class. The school’s most spirited students took the stage to present their loosely choreographed (or unfortunately impromptu) dance numbers for the students and faculty judges.

After a brief snack break, students filed into the gym for a game of dodgeball. The flames of competition were ignited upon stepping onto the court. Frenzied cries could be heard from friends, teammates and the occasional teacher on the sidelines as players strategically wove across the playing court, hurling colorful, plush balls at their peers-turned-rivals.

After a morning of high energy and fierce competition, students were given a range of activities from which to choose for the afternoon, including karaoke, sidewalk chalk and a movie.

The day concluded the same way it began – in unity. Upper School students and faculty members congregated in the theater for a prayer and song service. Acoustic melodies filled the room as each class’ Campus Ministry representative lit a candle. 

A beautiful day from start to finish, Unity Day stayed true to its name.