Alex Chang
Junior Santiago Sanchez spikes a volleyball over the net during Paly Play Day, sending the ball flying on the Quad. According to sophomore Mercy Byun, the variety of activities and relaxed atmosphere made the event a fun and refreshing break from the usual school day. "There are a lot of cool activities," Byun said. "I think it's really cool that Paly could set all this up for us and I'm really excited to play the games."
Laughter echoed today as students dove into tug-of-war, cheered on friends in volleyball matches and ate hot dogs under the sun during lunch today on the Quad — a much-needed breath of fresh air before finals.
Paly Play Day aimed to provide a relaxing environment and an opportunity to bring students together in a fun, collaborative and relaxing way.
Associated Student Body Director Alyssa Bond said she hoped the event left a positive lasting impression as students wrap up the school year.
“Maybe if they [students] don’t remember their math class, they remember that they won tug-of-war, or they remember they got to hang out with their friends one last time.” Bond said.
Sophomore class president Katie Kim said the event’s new name, changed from ‘Paly Field Day,’ reflects a continued effort to build school spirit and encourage student connection.
“It [Paly Play Day] has actually been an ongoing event,” Kim said. “It was originally called Paly Field Day, but we decided to change the name this year. We wanted to keep it going because we see how much it really brings everyone together. Everyone needs to meet people, it’s super fun and people can meet each other through games.”
ASB Secretary and junior Gavin Lin said he hoped Paly Play Day eased students’ stress from final exams and gave them a moment to wind down.
“I think during the time period leading up to finals, a lot of students are stressed,” Lin said. “I hope students enjoy their time at this event and it lights the road up going into finals.
Freshman Benji Sandel said he was surprised by how much he enjoyed the event and appreciated the chance to unwind before finals.
“It [Paly Play Day] is super fun; I didn’t expect it, but it’s really fun,” Sandel said. “It has a summer vibe and definitely takes the stress off of finals. The tug-of-war has been my favorite game so far. There’s no set limit on how many people can play. You can play with as many friends as you want to.”