The Associated Student Body relocated Thursday’s lunchtime rally to the football field after a fire alarm interrupted the rally on the quad.
The alarm originated with smoke from microwave popcorn in the school district portables between the football field and the district school bus parking lot, according to athletic director Earl Hansen.
The fire alarm began to ring at the end of the first round of competitions. While still on the quad, the sophomores beat the juniors in the first round of a hula hoop relay race. Participants were required to spin around while holding a baseball bat to their foreheads, don a green and white skirt, hopscotch through several hula hoops and toss the last hula hoop over a trash can.
After the first round had finished, Spirit Commissioner Alex Freeman announced that the rally would continue on the football field.
Students reassembled on the home bleachers and competitions took place on the track.
Principal Jacqueline McEvoy said ASB handled the change in venue well.
“What a perfect opportunity to move the rally out to the bleachers,” McEvoy said. “This will help me make a case for more bleachers so they can fit the entire student body.”
Several students praised ASB’s prompt relocation of the rally.
“They handled it really well,” junior Kristina Xiang said. “They seem really determined to keep up Spirit Week.”
Senior Miguel Ferrandiz said the fire alarm might improve the seniors’ chances for winning the competition.
“I think it will make seniors win more because seniors have the ability to take what is bad for other classes and use it to our own advantage,” Ferrandiz said.
After the seniors beat out the freshmen in round two, the senior class cheered on the freshmen in their competition against the juniors, chanting, “Freshman upset!” The freshmen won and advanced to the final round against the seniors, in which the seniors claimed the hula hoop championship.
Superintendent Kevin Skelly expressed his approval of the handling of the rally.
“That was really impressive,” Skelly said.
Friday is the last day of Spirit Week. All grades will wear green to promote Paly unity.