Food and game trucks pull up into the parking lot as volunteers set up games and activities for the attendees. Through the glass doors of the cafeteria, merchandise and goods from local vendors such as Sweet Creations and Jo and Bo soap company lay on several tables. Parents and their children walk around looking for tables to visit, food to buy and games to play.
Science teacher Jennifer Lowry helped plan the West Side picnic as she does every year. She provided the vendors with all they needed to set up their stands.
“The picnic is to build community relationships between the school and the businesses that are in Legacy’s area,” Ms. Lowry said. “It also helps the little kids from the feeder schools see what they have to look forward to coming from elementary school all the way to high school.”
Seniors Courtney Reeves and Etionne Mileo-Proby also helped organize the picnic on behalf of student council. They worked games at the picnic and sold shirts at the StuCo store.
“The picnic needed to be more advertised, but other than that, I think it was a good turnout for what we had,” Mileo-Proby said. “It shows what kind of school we are, like the family and community we are.”
Ms. Lowry made plans to make next year’s picnic bigger and better. It will include more games, music, food and entertainment.
“Next year, we will have a DJ and make sure there will be nothing else on the elementary school calendar that competes with us,” Ms. Lowry said.
Several clubs and extracurricular activities such as JROTC, drill team and theater set up a raffle, photo booth and games. The cool breezes made the weather pleasant to play in. Freshman Maija Miller manned a toilet paper toss and interacted with all the elementary school students.
“I volunteered because I needed the hours, but I also love little kids, so it’s a win-win,” Miller said. “It was fun, a bit unorganized but fun, and we all had a good time.”