As the clock struck 5 a.m., hundreds of students fled into the gym for the school’s second televised Cool School event on Friday, Oct. 28. While the rest of the city slept in the dark of the morning, a spirited crowd of teachers and kids danced to the school fight song and waited anxiously in the bleachers for the fun-filled morning that awaited them. The sea of students clad in navy and silver giggled in hushed excitement as the crew from the KCTV5 sponsor station counted down to the much anticipated moment when the festivities began.

Just days before the event date, the school got nominated then selected by KCTV5. While other area schools received approximately two months to advertise and prepare for the event, the administration and the student council received only one week of advance notice to organize all of the important details.

“That was the week we had parent teacher conferences, so we notified the student council kids and they came in and worked while we were off school,” StuCo sponsor Jessica DeWild said. “They had to get everything approved immediately instead of waiting for the approval of the rest of student council like we usually do.”

Due to the lack of time for preparation and planning, no time could be designated for testing the activities ahead of time. StuCo, the administration and the rest of the student body simply hoped that everything would work out on the final day.

“It was a three-hour-long pep assembly, so we had to plan enough games and find enough people to always be doing something,” sophomore president and emcee Jason Biesma said. “We had to move some of the games around and fill some of the down time we had with trivia, but it worked out. Plus, seeing everyone there was definitely a positive turnout.”

Despite having to spread the news very quickly, the event turned out a success.

“I attended because we have never done anything like this since I’ve been here,” senior Katie Duke said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity for the all the students to show their school spirit and illustrate what this school is really about.”

When the day finally arrived, the student body joined together to show the community the school at its best.

“I didn’t get any sleep the night before but it was worth it, and it was neat to see everyone so excited so early in the morning,” Duke said. “It was something that I will definitely remember.”