Pixel Festival Preview & Recap
Preview
Pixel Fest is a school-wide event centered around fun and relaxation, but this year, there is an even larger focus on togetherness and insightful activities. February 3rd, you can expect many students to participate in various in-person and online events revolving around both physical and mental enrichment. To start the day off, those in person at Stanford University’s campus can expect to hear a Keynote on the topic of history specifically concerning revolutions, led by Dr. Dan Edelstein followed by a diverse student showcase. The student showcase ranges from art, music, cryptocurrency, and even martial arts, so it is a great opportunity to see how talented our OHS community is through a range of disciplines. Student activities open to all OHS students will follow and include sports as well as crafts, games, and various challenges. Reminding us of the togetherness of our OHS community, Ms. Mustafa, the director of Student Life, mentions how parents specifically can partake in sessions “...focusing on social-emotional well-being and college counseling” led by expert OHS instructors. Rounding off the night, students can let loose at the Winter Formal filled with music, board games, and lots of delicious food. Organizing this event was a team effort as Ms. Mustafa mentioned that “facilitating collaboration across Stanford departments…” was no easy task that required precise coordination to accomplish. Student Life spent the time leading up to that event “analyzing the event expenses, planning activities…organizing mini-courses, and selecting suitable venues…” so please be sure to thank everyone involved in setting up Pixel Fest when you get the chance. While difficult, the coordinators of Pixel Fest are excited to see our school come together so in the words of the Student Life Coordinator, Ms. Alden, “gather together – in person and online-- connect with friends, instructors, other families,” experience Pixel Fest, and have fun!
Recap
On February 3, 2024, OHSers from all over the world gathered at Stanford to partake in Pixel Fest. Pixel Fest kicked off at 9:00 am with registration. During registration, OHSers were able to meet and connect with their friends and classmates. At 10:00, everyone was split up into groups to participate in grade-level activities, offering an opportunity to get to know classmates in the same grade. Each grade had a different activity–for example–the juniors were tasked with building the tallest structure out of marshmallows and spaghetti! After the grade level activities, both family members and OHSers were invited to watch the keynote speaker, Dan Edelstein, who is a professor at Stanford University in the Division of Literature, Culture, and Languages. The talk, titled “Revolution: the History of an Idea” was very informative. Dr. Edelstien, in his talk, discussed the nature of revolutions, drawing on examples ranging from Ancient Greece to the French Revolution. For those interested in viewing the talk, it can be accessed at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCL5XBT5fBI. After the lecture, a catered lunch was provided, and then the student showcases started. OHSers were able to showcase their multitude of talents, ranging from playing the piano, giving a demonstration of martial arts, and presenting on the intricacies of cryptocurrencies. After the student showcase, students then split up into groups to attend their student activity courses. Some of the activity courses included painting, decorating cookies, and going on a tour of the Cantor Arts Museum on campus. In the meantime, parents and guardians were invited to several different talks, including one with college counseling. After this, students were given free time to prepare for the main event: the dance. The dance committee had worked hard to prepare the room, creating centerpieces, archways, and other various means of decoration. The dance started at 7:00 pm and was “butterfly” themed with a color scheme of pastels. It lasted three hours, and concluded with the song “Don’t Stop Believing.”