Under the shining sun, CHS9 students eagerly run outside, either embracing the heat with fiercely competitive games of tug-of-war, or beating the heat by flocking to the cyan Kona Ice snow cone truck. Both ways, students took these opportunities with smiles, and their friends by their sides.
On Friday, CHS9 held its fourth annual Cowboy Fest, planned by the Student Council Executive team, and sponsor Erin Begle. The day started with a pep rally in fifth period, followed by a three-on-three basketball game and movies in classrooms.
Other groups participated as well, such as the Silver Stars drill team, drumline and Coppell Choir performing at the pep rally in fifth period, and CHS9 Kindness Club hosting an event where teachers get pied in the face.
“All of our staff and students have worked really hard in planning all of the aspects of Cowboy Fest,” Begle said. “It has been months of planning and excitement, so to see it and actually be here is really fun.”
Student Council aimed to make Cowboy Fest a larger event than ever before by adding new things, such as food trucks, inflatables, a mechanical bull, slip’n slide and obstacle course.
“We took a lot of risks, but I think they really paid off for the better,” Begle said. “Every hiccup we had was all worth it when we saw how excited everyone was.”
After an extended block lunch with two food trucks, Blaze n’ Good Food and Harold Dean Smoked Goods, students were free to go outside and compete in tug-of-war and 11-square, as well as basketball in the CHS9 small gym.
“I really loved our extended block lunch because I got to hang out with my friends, play basketball, and listen to the DJ,” CHS9 student Tanishka Kale said. “Although the lines for the food trucks were really long, I really liked it as it was a nice break from school.”
They also participated in the different inflatables offered, enjoyed snow cones from Kona Ice and partook in karaoke in the cafeteria.
CHS9 Student Council plans to expand Cowboy Fest even more in coming years by adding more food trucks, and more opportunities for students to bond with things like more games and staff involvement.
“To have a different routine and to be able to celebrate the end of the year with their friends is really fun,” Begle said. “It is the little things that we know the students would love, not necessarily the things we spent the most money on. It is all about getting to spend these times together.”
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