The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle

The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle

The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle

Students rock the Block… Party

VWS+students+smile+with+their+intricate+face+paint+designs+on+display+for+their+friend%2C+who+has+an+iPhone+snapping+a+photo+in+one+hand+and+a+cup+of+Ding+Tea+boba+in+the+other.+
Sharon Xu
VWS students smile with their intricate face paint designs on display for their friend, who has an iPhone snapping a photo in one hand and a cup of Ding Tea boba in the other.

Students of all grade levels crowded around the road located just past the pool as the second annual Block Party kicked off the second weekend for Webb students on campus. Staggered clumps of students wandering through the Jameson Archway and down Appleby Lawn to be faced with enthusiastic cheering from video game stations or popping purple butterflies on girls’ cheeks. 

As the sun set, the Block Party erupted, offering a variety of events including: laser tag, Mario Kart, and face painting. A selection of snacks, including popcorn and free Ding Tea, were available to all students who made an appearance.

The Jameson dorm prefects, alongside Ken Rosenfeld, Dean of Campus Life, organized a lively event for students to look forward to at the start of each school year. Taking place at the “Terrific Triangle,” students were met with the refreshing taste of boba and a plethora of activities that helped them de-stress after the first full week of classes.

Cindy Nie (‘23) said, “I feel like it’s a good time for everyone to just chill from a long week of school…there’s a lot of fun activities and boba.”

The free servings of Ding Tea seemed to fly off the tables and into grateful students’ hands. The line for boba stretched all the way from Jones Dorm to Appleby Dorm as students were eager for a refreshing cup after a long, hot day. 

Ava Sinha (‘20), a South Hutch dorm prefect, said that the boba as a nice incentive for students to come to the party and that it was “pretty cool.” While the free beverage appeared to be one of the deciding factors for those students debating whether or not to come, it was hardly the only attention-grabbing activity unfolding.  

Laser tag ran full-force at Jameson Beach, where propped-up tents were scattered to offer protection from opposing players. This activity was another big hit, it allowed students who may have previously been strangers to bond over a common goal: victory against the other team. 

Students battled for a similar victory in riveting video game tournaments. Attendees could compete with each other in the popular Wii games, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. 

Nathan Lara (‘22) said, “Mario Kart is very fun and somewhat competitive, but it has low stakes. [Students] can laugh about it together because it doesn’t matter who wins and who loses.”

The face painting stand, which was a new addition to the Block Party, drew a lot of attention. Friends would sit down together and within a few minutes, they would stand up with wild and colorful designs adorning their faces.

Sharon Xu
Bianca Arteaga (‘22) is transformed into Iron Man through the power of face paints.

Because this Block Party is only the second to occur at Webb, this year’s party had some notable improvements from last year’s event. The 2019 Block Party was more focused on fun games and activities compared to last year. The activities noted from this year replaced those of last year, including a movie on Alamo Lawn, Kona Ice truck, and milkshakes.

Rick Duque, WSC Dean of Students, said, “There’s music, there’s food, there’s videogames, there’s popcorn, there’s about to be laser tag… I think that it’s nice that not everything has to be like a giant show; it can just be very casual and music playing and people can just come and hang out.”

Overall, the great music, food, games, free boba, face painting, and even some faculty kids playing video games with upperclassmen made this year’s Block Party a night to remember, acting as an exceptional model for back-to-school events to come. 

 

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About the Contributors
Kaitlyn De Armas, Editor-in-Chief
Kaitlyn De Armas ('21), an original and strong-willed creator, is an Aquarius who perfectly fits her sign's description. She is an avid One Direction fan, her favorite album being Midnight Memories, but she thinks all of their songs are amazing. A humanities enthusiast, her favorite class this year is Advanced Studies Creative Nonfiction. Kaitlyn loves running and hanging out with her friends in her free time. She is really into making playlists and loves listening to them in the car with her friends. Besides running, Kaitlyn plays both soccer and softball. When the weekend rolls around, Kaitlyn can be seen relaxing with friends, as well as sleeping in. This year, she would like to use her position as Editor-in-Chief to introduce new projects. She is looking forward to bringing in and build upon new media formats like quizzes, videos, podcasts, galleries, and playlists. She also really wants to bring about more viewership and make a positive difference on the Webb Community.
Jay Gupta, Editor of Technology
Jay Gupta (‘20), hailing from New Delhi, India and Newport Beach, CA, is the tech expert of the Webb Canyon Chronicle. He currently serves as the Editor of Technology. Jay enjoys writing about global and international news, but one of his goals for this upcoming school year is to involve himself more in the Webb community by frequently checking out student-run events. In his free time, Jay likes to dive into a good book. His favorite authors are Arundhati Roy and John Grisham. He also enjoys listening to Green Day and Blink-182. With his mastermind of a brain, Jay strives to advance as a strong and knowledgeable leader.
Mohammad Igbaria, Editor of News
Mohammad Igbaria (’20), popularly known as Mo, is a senior day student. A Claremont native, Mo has lived in this city for most of his life, with the exception of a brief time spent in Maryland. Although he is a first-year writer at the Webb Canyon Chronicle, Mo is excited to take on the role of Co-Editor of News and cover international issues such as climate change and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Before graduating Webb, Mo hopes to leave a legacy of kindness, service, and gratitude. In the future, he aims to become a doctor in order to change people's lives for the better. During his free time, Mo enjoys hanging out at the Village, where you can catch him getting boba and food with his friends.
Janitza Luna, Editor-in-Chief
Standing at 5’0”ft tall, Janitza Luna ('20) embodies the persona of small and mighty. Born into the Aries astrological sign, her fiery determination and zeal are an awe-inspiring force. Janitza enjoys collaborating with her peers, as it gives her an opportunity to learn about other people’s  backgrounds. Her interest in sociology is the root to her reasoning and it allows her to develop human understanding because she is able to understand and appreciate the different perspectives of her peers. As a result, Janitza is an empathetic and kind being. She is also a fun person to be around; she shows her goofy and light-hearted personality through her creation of weird Snapchat videos and Spotify playlists.  
Nichola Monroe, Chief Editor of Features
If you’re looking for a Webb big sister, Nichola Monroe (‘22) is the person for you. An experienced co-chair of the VWS dorm prefect council, she is always looking for ways to lend her knowledge to newer students both in the dorm and outside. As a returning member of the Webb Canyon Chronicle and this year’s Chief Editor of Features, she is excited to write engaging articles, share her journalism experiences, and help others thrive. Over this last summer, Nichola fostered her leadership skills at a summer camp in Maine. She lived in a cabin with younger girls and taught them how to make ceramics and jewelry, sewing, and other important life skills. Although Nichola usually resides in Dana Point, she is currently living at Webb and hopes to initiate new dorm activities for other boarders in Jameson to enjoy. Also an activist, Nichola cares deeply about current issues like climate change and sustainability. When she’s not helping other people, you can most likely find her outdoors, whether it's dancing, walking her dog at the beach, knitting under a tree, or simply just doing somersaults in front of her dorm. Favorite song: "Stay for the Summer" by Logan & Isabel
Sharon Xu, Editor of News
Unlike her favorite animal, the panda, Sharon Xu (‘22) is a go-getter and always tries her best. An amicable, assiduous South Hutch prefect that dances, Sharon is truly one of a kind. She is also the Editor of News for the Webb Canyon Chronicle and strives for informative, intellectual, and imaginative news articles for all of Webb to read. Sharon can often be found hanging out at the Appleby Lawn or studying in the library. Her favorite book is “One Last Stop,” in which Jane, the main character, finds herself on an unescapable train and makes a home for herself there. Just like Jane, Sharon is encapsulated by the “Webb web” and makes the most out of every situation she finds herself in. For example, when faced with the terrifying prospect of “math,” Sharon, despite many setbacks, works tirelessly and overcomes this hurdle. This work ethic translates to every aspect of her life. Whether it is authoring compelling articles for journalism or taking care of her two cats, Sushi and Doctor Spencer Reed, Sharon will always put her all into it. Favorite song: "How You Get the Girl" by Taylor Swift

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