The term “Color War” usually brings to mind kids dressed in team colors and participating in activities like sports, banner making, and more. It certainly doesn’t connote a meeting about the school building’s plumbing – but at HANC High School on Wednesday, March 26, that’s exactly how Color War began. Late that morning, an announcement was made calling all students down to the gym for an update on an issue with the plumbing. That update turned out to be a Color War breakout – or so it seemed. Complete with colors, team themes, and scheduled activities, it was nothing more than a fakeout! Students had to wait until that afternoon for the real breakout and were thrilled to find out their real teams: Team Blue, representing T’filah, and Team Silver, symbolizing Torah.
The excitement ran nonstop from the first day until the end. Decked out in the regalia of their team colors, students participated in sports games such as football, soccer, and dodgeball. Events like Cake Wars and the Breakfast-Making Competition tested students’ skills in the kitchen, while teams’ artists poured all their skill into their banners – though, in a surprising twist, this year’s banners were outdoor murals visible to anyone who visits campus.
Project Runway saw students using whatever supplies they could to design outfits to help their friends shine in team colors, and in Tug o’ War, it was an all-out team-versus-team fight by grades. Of course, HANC would have been remiss to have such an event without incorporating limudei Torah into the fun. On Thursday morning, students watched a presentation for the Chidon created by Rabbi Friedler about the deeper meaning of karpas; on Friday after davening, one representative from each team gave a d’var Torah before the entire school.
In the end, Team Blue – T’filah – won, but both teams performed so well that it was a close game. Students worked together to overcome challenges, forming closer bonds in the process, and overall, it was a fun and meaningful experience for everyone involved.
Thank you to the incredible Student Life team and to all the student leaders who ensured that Color War 5785 was an incredible success!
