On day three of the 2025 Spring Spirit Week, Communications High School (CHS) welcomed students representing two distinct regions of the United States. From California dreamers to western buckaroos, CHS students dressed according to the “Headed West” theme on Wednesday, April 30.
Arguably more intense than a traditional western showdown, the all new Hunger Games event garnered attention and anticipation as students gathered to the back of the cafeteria to find out whether they would be reaped.
“I’m feeling the thrill of a lifetime right now; I’m so ready to win,” said senior Hannah Smolinski of Little Silver, as she waited for six of her classmates’ names to be drawn from the hat. “Simon says that we’re going to win everything and it’ll be awesome.”
She is referring to the first game of the event, Simon says. Six students from each grade lined up outside to find out just how far their conditioning to follow directions had gone.
After several students were tricked by the sneaky instructions, it was time for a game of red light, green light. A race of running while physical education teacher Madison Gibson called “green light” and stopping when she called “red light” seemed a difficult task for the juniors, eventually eliminating them from the event altogether.
With two freshmen, one sophomore, two juniors and three seniors left, the Class of 2025 felt ready to take on a game of ball drop, attempting to get all but one ball through a hole in a box without touching any of the balls.
After Student Government Association (SGA) members counted each contestant’s remaining balls, two seniors were eliminated from the event.
Pinning two freshmen against one sophomore and one senior, elephant bowling proved to be a nail-biter. With stockings on their heads, the two freshmen celebrated their victory in the first ever CHS Hunger Games event.
“I’m very glad that we won because it’s not often that freshmen do. It’s nice that we can prove ourselves,” said freshman Rachael Pasqua of Holmdel, a Hunger Games participant. “We’re definitely more enthusiastic than last [Spirit Week] and I think we have more pep than all the other CHS students.”
However, the friendly feud between the newest CHS class and eldest one is only just beginning.
“I think that the seniors should watch out,” Ryan Schiavo of Oceanport said. “[My grade has] bonded a lot and we now know each other more.”
With such a close match between all of the grades, students—togged up in togas or in their best getups that scream Greek Life, as per the “Going Greek” theme—will anxiously watch tomorrow’s Balloon Pop game to get a better idea of the final standings.
Despite the freshmen’s ambitious attitudes, the seniors have yet to lose their lead, ending the day with 168 points, followed by the freshmen with 159 points, then the sophomores and juniors with 151 and 143 points, respectively.
With an unprecedented sixth consecutive spirit week win on the line for the seniors, they are set on keeping their title.
“We’re coming for you!” senior Hannah Hewitson of Wall said, addressing the freshmen. “We’re coming for you!”
