The Palo Alto High School Parent Teacher Student Association hosted the annual Welcome-Back-to-School dinner on Thursday evening, featuring the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Media Arts Center, student performances and food trucks.

Principal Kim Diorio, Paly journalism advisers Paul Kandell and Esther Wojcicki, former California State Senator Joe Simitian and Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education President Barb Mitchell spoke during the ceremony.

Each thanked the numerous people involved in the MAC project, including past Principal Jacqueline McEvoy, the boosters, previous advisers Ellen Austin and Mike McNulty, the Facilities Steering Committee, the school Board, Paly administration, the architects and various donors.

According to Wojcicki, there will also be a three day-long grand opening of the MAC starting Oct 16.

Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, will attend the event on Oct. 16, and Paly alumnus James Franco will be there on Oct. 18, according to Wojcicki.

Global Voices, which “curate[s], verif[ies] and translate[s] trending news and stories you might be missing on the Internet, from blogs, independent press and social media in 167 countries,” according to its website, will be there for a week and will be featured on Oct. 17.