School creates a scene

The sophomore class sold caramel apples, the National Honor Society offered chocolate-covered strawberries, and the senior class tempted passersby with trips through an inflatable-house-sized obstacle course.

It was Saturday’s Hoover Street Scene, a carnival-like community party to raise money for the student clubs and organizations at Hoover High School.

During the late afternoon and into the evening, the school’s upper quad was filled with game booths, food stands and a makeshift performance space for student entertainers.

“It’s basically just a carnival at school to raise money for clubs and sports and stuff,” said Leza Patatanian, 16.

Leza was manning the Armenian Students Assn.’s booth, a basketball game that had the prospect of prizes if one sunk at least two out of three shots.

The Street Scene was organized by the Purple Circle, a parent group that raises funds for the school. Proceeds from the event would go to the individual student clubs, as well as back to the Purple Circle to purchase supplies requested by teachers, said Susan Yee, a Purple Circle member.

The event was also a chance to bring the clubs on campus together for one event, said Rose Samore, a counselor and parent who helped organize the event.

“They get to do it all here in this nice atmosphere,” she said.

Edith Kordijan, 17, was helping out at the moon bounce, an inflatable plastic room where children jumped on a bouncy makeshift floor.

“It’s attracting the little kids so far,” she said.

Many a youngster was also drawn to the giant, Godzilla-themed obstacle course run by the senior class.

Students ran through plastic tires and climbed up a plastic mountain to slide back down to the ground. Firass Halawi, 17, raced his 7-year-old brother, Ryan Halawi, and lost.

“It’s hard,” Firass said.

Student groups from schools that feed into Hoover — like Keppel Elementary and Toll Middle schools — performed dance routines for a supportive crowd of onlookers.

“It brings all the schools together — Keppel, Toll and Hoover,” said Tatiana Sarkisian, 17, as she waited to perform a routine with Hoover’s dance team.

In another corner of the quad, Associated Student Body advisor Nareg Keshishian sat in a dunk tank run by the school’s football team. Perched on a bar suspended over a tub of water, Keshishian teased and taunted students he knew by name to dare to knock him into the water by pitching a ball at a target.

“I’m feeling nice and warm up here,” Keshishian said, as student after student tried to dunk him. “I’m drying off already.”

He’s such a ripe target, Keshishian explained, because he knows the students well, and is also a “notorious disciplinarian” when it comes to things like the dress code.

“I’m public enemy No. 1 up here,” he joked.

But, the day and the dunk tank were all in good fun, he said.

“If you like working in a school, these are the days you live for,” he said.