Just Clowning Around

4 May 2012Taryn O

On April 21st a surprise visitor graced the campus.

Who was this visitor?

The real answer may never be known as her face was hidden under layers of makeup, but all of those who attended Alex Open House will always refer to her as “Tickles the Clown”. Yes, there was a clown on campus, glorifying the halls of Alex House and creating balloon animals in abundance.

Why was a clown called in to aggrandize this event? The answer is obvious too: it’s all about theme. Circus tents encircled the house, the upper floor was swarming with balloons, and animals guarded middle floor. Oh yes, it was a circus in Alex House on the night of April 21st, and the excitement buzzing throughout the building mirrored the theme perfectly.

On the Thursday before, the gathering had been mentioned and students and teachers were treated to a preview of likely images that would encapsulate the oldest house on campus. The Grade 12s starred in an original video that differed immensely from a typical open house advertisement. Much thanks to Megan Toriglia (an Alex House grad) for creatively directing and filming, and to Emileah Gates for hair styling.

At the entrance to the house were Alex girls welcoming in visitors and a candy jar full to the brim. Guesses were made and tallied and finally the closest estimation to the actual total of 933 was found to be 899, submitted by Shalise B who managed to win 933 little pieces of heaven.

The common room, typically used for casual television watching, was transformed into a tent by hardworking Grade 11s, and drinks and dancing were bountiful. True to the nature of a circus, colour was everywhere: bouncing off the walls, splattering skin, and tumbling from the ceiling.

Upstairs housed a popular attraction: pizza and baked goods. While students could make their way through the maze of Alex House to discover the goods on the top floor, they were also treated to taquitos and bagel bites as juniors wandered through the houses with plates full of goodies.

Some rooms, in the merriment of the festivities, chose to decorate to the full extent and attracted company who could scarcely resist the pretty lights and swooping banners. All through the house, even a week later, there remain the remnants of the night past. Streamers encase the lower floor and the common rooms as a reminder of the hard work put into making Alex Open House such a successful event. Thank you to all of the Grade 12s who worked so hard, as well as to Ms. Mais and Mrs. Warner for guiding us through the organizational, and congratulations to the girls on an entertaining night. Taryn O

Where Students Choose To Be