Holmes preps for Holiday Hoopla

Holmes Junior High’s annual Holiday Hoopla is a schoolwide celebration held the day before winter break. The event is designed to recognize the work of students and staff during the semester, build community and support school spirit. Students rotate through a variety of activities, and the event includes partnerships with local organizations. Teachers Lauren Greiner and Jessica Hartz help organize the event.

Hartz said she values the opportunity to observe each of the activity sessions.

“I am super lucky to get to see every single session offered during the event — I like them all,” she said. “It is so cool to see staff and students participating in things they enjoy.”

Greiner said the event gives students a chance to try activities outside their regular routines.

“I love seeing all of our students engage in something they enjoy before winter break,” she said. “It is so much fun to watch students learn and try new things, sending them off for break positively and enjoyably.”

Ninth grader Susanna Fisher said the teachers’ work makes the experience memorable.

“The most fun I’ve personally had at an activity was a gingerbread house building contest in seventh grade, but all of the activities I’ve done have been a lot of fun,” she said.

Another ninth grader, Emmet Kirchner, said he appreciates the effort that goes into the event.

“I appreciate that Holiday Hoopla always has something for everyone to enjoy,” he said. “There are sports, board and video games, reading rooms, cooking and so much more. It really makes the day feel special, as every student is able to participate in what they enjoy.”

Planning for Holiday Hoopla begins months in advance. Hartz said one challenge is placing students into sessions based on their preferences.

“We aim to place everyone in the sessions they want, but when numbers make that impossible, we focus on being honest and transparent,” she said.

Greiner said the process requires extensive coordination.

“It’s a time-consuming process — coordinating partners, managing donations and student sign-ups, preparing materials and supplies, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the day of the event,” she said.

Fisher, who serves on the student council, said the group supports other seasonal activities even though it is not heavily involved in Hoopla planning.

“We do not do a lot of planning relating to Holmes Hoopla specifically, but we help organize and broadcast other holiday activities, like the door-decorating contest and candy cane sales,” she said.

According to Greiner, planning often continues outside the school day.

“A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into planning Holmes Hoopla each year,” she said. “The committee brainstorms engaging session ideas, reviews past favorites and adds new options. They also reach out to local businesses to help run sessions or donate gift cards and prizes.”

More than 600 students submit their top five session choices each year. The planning committee reviews those selections, tracks trends and assigns students based on availability.

Although the student council’s role in planning is limited, Fisher said she still values the effort behind the event.

“I appreciate how much work teachers put into their activities to make it so fun for the students, and I also love how many options there are,” she said.

Kirchner said he has enjoyed watching Holiday Hoopla grow since his arrival in seventh grade.

“I have loved watching events such as Holiday Hoopla grow across the years,” he said. “It is a great event that everybody seems to look forward to every single year. It is always a day where everybody seems to be having a blast.”

Holiday Hoopla began in 2018. After pandemic-related interruptions, staff reintroduced many previous activities.

Greiner said some sessions consistently draw high participation.

“Some of the activities that have been very popular in the past include Furry Friends with Cedar Bend, Sidecar Coffee, dodgeball, cookie decorating and the gingerbread house competition,” she said.