Wacky Week at ISL: A Celebration of School Spirit and Fun

Wacky Week at ISL has been a hallmark event since its inception in the 2001-2002 academic year. Originally conceived as a week-long competition, this event has evolved to focus more on unity, school spirit, and sheer fun. While the competitive edge has been toned down, the excitement and enthusiasm have only grown. Let’s dive into what makes Wacky Week such a beloved tradition at ISL.

The Birth and Evolution of Wacky Week

Wacky Week started as a week-long event aimed at fostering school spirit and camaraderie among students and staff. Initially, it was structured as a competition with various challenges and activities designed to engage the entire school community. However, after the 2019 edition, where Year 12 dominated the challenges (breaking the tradition of Year 13 winning), the competitive aspect was removed. The decision was made to reduce the event’s duration to three days, ensuring a more inclusive and harmonious atmosphere.

Lunchtime Challenges: A Test of Wits and Fun

One of the highlights of Wacky Week is the series of lunchtime challenges that bring everyone together. These challenges include:

• Run Buggy Run: A fast-paced, exhilarating race.
• Balloon Pop Challenge: A fun and frantic game of popping balloons.
• Secret Performance: The grand finale where students prepare and perform a secret act they’ve been working on all week.

Each of these activities is designed to promote teamwork, creativity, and, most importantly, fun.

Themed Days: A Splash of Colour and Creativity

Every year, the Student Council (StuCo) selects themes for each day of Wacky Week, encouraging students to express their school spirit in creative ways. This year’s themes were:

• Wacky Hair and Clash Day: A day for outrageous hairstyles and mismatched outfits.
• Letter Day (N for 2023-2024): Students dress up in costumes representing something that starts with the letter ‘N’.
• Secret Theme Day: Year 13 students decorate the South building, while Year 12 takes over the North foyer. Other year groups can also decorate their corridors if they wish.

Scavenger Hunt: A Quest for Fun and Engagement

Throughout Wacky Week, each year group participates in a scavenger hunt with a series of fun and engaging tasks:

• Perform a rap battle with/against a teacher: No diss tracks allowed!
• Recreate 30 seconds of a music video.
• Scare a member of StuCo.
• Film a TikTok with a teacher.
• Take a year group selfie with StuCo.
• Perform an act of kindness for Vesna, the Head of Cleaning.
• Paint/Draw/Collage your Year Level Leader.
• Film a flash mob.
• Recreate The Great British Bake Off with a theme of StuCo Appreciation.
• Choose a Guinness World Record to attempt.

These activities are designed to be light-hearted and fun, encouraging students to engage with their peers and teachers in new and creative ways.

Judging and Awards: Celebrating Participation and Creativity

Even though the competitive aspect of Wacky Week has been toned down, recognition is still given to those who excel in various categories. Teacher volunteers, including academic and well-being counsellors, judge each year group’s engagement and participation every morning during homeroom. They submit their scores via a Google form managed by StuCo.

StuCo then meets on the penultimate day to review all scavenger hunt submissions while enjoying cakes from the Great British Bake Off challenge. Awards are given in several categories, including:

• Dress-Up Day Winners
• Lunchtime Challenge Winners
• Secret Theme Winners
• Best Wackiness (overall participation, engagement, and fair play)
• Scavenger Hunt Winners

The Grand Finale: A Celebration of School Spirit

The high school principal organises an assembly on the last day of Wacky Week. During this assembly, StuCo shares pictures and videos of the week’s events and announces the winners for each category. It is a moment of pride and joy, showcasing the creativity and spirit of the ISL community.

Wacky Week at ISL is a celebration of school spirit, creativity, and community. By bringing students and staff together in a joyous and inclusive environment, Wacky Week fosters a sense of belonging and pride in the ISL community. Whether it is through wacky hairstyles, themed decorations, or engaging challenges, Wacky Week continues to be a highlight of the school year, leaving lasting memories and building a stronger, more united school community.

Wacky Week – Photo gallery

© Photo credit: Mélody Spoerri