On the night of October 10th, Gateway held Gator Day once again after a few-year hiatus. This event was made possible by Mrs. Ruiz’s hard work and the collaboration of various clubs, organizations, and students who volunteered to help run a stand/game. For instance, NHS and Key Club worked an inflatable game stand together.
So, how long did it take to fully coordinate the plans for this amazing night? In order to get Gator Day off the ground and ensure that everything ran smoothly, it took Mrs. Ruiz a few months.
Recently, there has been an event similar to Gator Day called Global Family Fun Night. However, this year, the two events were combined to revive the once-gone Gator Day. Why was Gator Day brought back then? According to Mrs. Ruiz, “Many of our Juniors last year, who are now Seniors, really wanted to bring Gator Day back. They remembered it as a fun tradition from years ago and wanted future students to experience it too. Since I had organized Global Family Fun Night last year, I decided to help bring Gator Day back while incorporating cultural elements, creating a celebration that combined both community and culture.”
To incorporate the cultural elements from Global Family Fun Night, Gateway brought in a range of festivities, including South Pacific Islander Dancers, Talavera tile painting, and products made by the Pulsera Project.
Senior Juliet Bender did face painting for Art Club, but when she wasn’t occupied doing that, she did karaoke, “I really enjoyed singing with my good friend, Kayla Clancy.”
Alumni, current students, past students, family, friends, and kids on their way to being a Gator came and enjoyed the festivities. One of the most popular places was the bracelet-making table! This year’s turnout was great, and Mrs. Ruiz and others are already brainstorming ways to make next year’s even better! It was a great night to be a Gator!
