Holmes preps for Holiday Hoopla

Holmes Junior High’s annual Holiday Hoopla is a school-wide celebration held the day before winter break. The event is designed to recognize the work of students and staff during the semester, build community and support school spirit. Students rotate through a variety of activities, and the event also includes partnerships with local organizations. Teachers Lauren Greiner and Jessica Hartz help organize the event.

Hartz said she appreciates being able to observe all of the sessions.
“I am super lucky to get to see every single session offered during the event—I like them all,” she said. “It is so cool to see staff and students participating in things they enjoy.”

Greiner said that the event provides students with opportunities to participate in activities outside their regular school routine.
“I love seeing all of our students engage in something they enjoy before winter break,” she said. “It is so much fun to watch students learn and try new things, sending them off for break positively and enjoyably.”

Hartz said part of the planning process involves placing students into sessions based on their preferences.
“We aim to place everyone in the sessions they want, but when numbers make that impossible, we focus on being honest and transparent,” she said.

Greiner said the event requires extensive preparation.
“It’s a time-consuming process—coordinating partners, managing donations and student sign-ups, preparing materials and supplies, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the day of the event,” she said.

According to Greiner, planning continues outside the school day.
“A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into planning Holmes Hoopla each year,” she said. “The committee brainstorms engaging session ideas, reviews past favorites and adds new options. They also reach out to local businesses to help run sessions or donate gift cards and prizes.”

More than 600 students submit their top five session choices each year. The planning committee reviews those selections, tracks trends and assigns students based on availability.

The Holiday Hoopla began in 2018. After pandemic-related interruptions, staff reintroduced many previous activities.

Greiner said some sessions consistently draw high participation.
“Some of the activities that have been very popular in the past include Furry Friends with Cedar Bend, Sidecar Coffee, dodgeball, cookie decorating and the gingerbread house competition,” she said.