Members of the Paly community are already looking forward to another “Welcome to Paly” dinner in 2006 after the success of the second annual event this Sept. 8 in the Quad.

“What I wanted to do was to start the year off building our Paly community,” said Cathy Jensen, Paly parent and organizer of the “Welcome to Paly” dinner. “It’s a feel-good type of event.”

Paly principal Scott Laurence said, “One of the things that makes our school special is the community spirit.”

Jensen said that though 1,175 prepaid dinners were ordered, this year’s turnout may have been lower than anticipated because of slightly cooler weather.

Members of the extended Paly community attended, including 40 teachers as volunteer servers and roughly 50 Paly alums, some graduates from as early as the 1930’s, according to Jensen.

“As you can tell, there are people of all ages here,” Jensen said.

Teachers served Mexican food catered by Bueno Bueno.

Photo teacher Margo Wixsom enjoyed serving food.

“I can’t think of a better event to volunteer at,” Wixsom said.

Along with a change in cuisine from last year’s Italian food were other additions, including a DJ and a latte cart. Throughout the evening, the DJ, “The HighTop Posse,” collected music requests from the crowd.

“We are request-based and request-driven,” Miguel “DJ HighTop” Fonseca said. “The requests have been all over the place.”

There was music for all ages, from Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” to a big band song dedicated to the class of ’43.

“The HighTop Posse,” the DJ at last year’s Welcome Back Dance and Homecoming two years ago, will also be at this year’s Oct. 8 Homecoming.

Some teachers, students, and siblings danced to the Macarena and the electric slide in front of the amphitheater, which was dedicated to former principal Sandra Pearson at last year’s “Welcome to Paly” Dinner.

To add to the festive atmosphere, “The Heartbeats,” a self-formed quartet of Paly choir students and Madrigal members, sang for table groups around the Quad. Like last year, Paly gear was available for sale during the event.

Looking ahead, Jensen plans to offer a different type of cuisine next year, as well as hopes to find an apprentice she can train to take her place two years from now, when she will no longer be a Paly parent.

Whether through games of Frisbee or soccer on the grass, a discussion during dinner, or a chat in the food line, members of the Paly community socialized with others connected with the school.

“It’s cool,” freshman Courtney Hancock said. “I get to see everyone.”

The “Welcome to Paly” dinner offered members of the Paly community the opportunity to reconnect after the summer and for newcomers to get acquainted.

“It’s a great way for people to meet,” junior Weiqi Hu said.