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Writer's pictureEverest Schipper

A Recap: Fall Family Weekend (Nika Iverson '26 & Jasper Shelmerdine '26)

Late in the afternoon on Thursday, October 19, the lively semiannual buzz of Family Weekend began to erupt across the Cate campus. Students, eager about the rare opportunity to get off campus, went to see their parents and enjoy dinner right after their sports blocks came to an end. By Friday morning, Upper Field overflowed with newly arrived cars that brought hundreds of parents to campus who were ready to accompany their children to classes, lunch, and assembly. This marked the beginning of a highly anticipated four-day long event, including thrilling sports games, an amazing play brought up by talented students and faculty, and overall joyful kids who reunited with families.


Firstly, the fall play was a great way to kick off this refreshing and much-needed long weekend. The seven cast members of this play worked tirelessly every day after classes to bring about the wonderful performance of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The play was broadcast on Thursday evening to all students, and on Friday evening to parents and anybody else who wanted to watch. There was an overwhelming amount of support on both nights, as parents got to see their kids light up the Hitchcock Theater, and students got to witness their fellow classmates show off their acting. Ada Hansen, a senior cast member explained, “The best part of the play was getting to see parents watch their kids perform because they don’t normally get to see them.”


The play was not the only event during this weekend that let students show off to their peers and parents what they have been practicing. Both the men's Varsity Football and women's Varsity Volleyball had incredible games. Johnny Foster, a junior and member of the football team believed that these sports games shared a similar experience as the play. He said, “Due to it being family weekend, there were more people and support and the stands were overflowing.” Both teams accomplished outstanding victories: Football with a final win of 47-6 over the visiting Villanova Wildcats, and volleyball kept its season alive by sweeping the Paracletes in the CIF quarterfinals.


Another one of the highlights of Family Weekend was the ceremony for the opening of the new Ellis House. This building holds significant importance as it is the first building ever at Cate School to be named after a woman. During the ceremony, this new health center was shown off to the visiting families and all were excited about the establishment because of the immense anticipation it had garnered since the beginning of construction last school year. Prior to the operation of the Ellis House, The Health Center had been enclosed in a janky trailer which was the designated area for students to rest in if they were in need of healthcare and assistance. Now this new building will take over as the new healthcare facility, helping students with support of both their physical and mental well-being. During this dedication on the Saturday of Family Weekend, the woman whom the building was named after, Sandy Ellis, said, “I really hope that all the students, faculty, and staff at Cate find a healing, quiet space with love, kindness, and support here at Ellis House.”


The four-day long Fall Family Weekend was a huge success as hundreds of students got to reunite with their families and show off all they have learned so far in this school year, including material in classes, musical talents with the fall play, chorale, orchestra, and rock band performances, and sports games.



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