Students at IS 61 in Queens traveled back in time last week at the school’s first Academy Spirit Week. 

Students brought to life five decades from the 1940s through the 1980s. They decorated hallways and participated in a talent competition, showing off the music and culture of the time. 

“This was a great way to focus all of our students’ energy into a positive learning experience,” IS 61 Assistant Principal Beth Garelick said. “It was a fantastic way to end a wonderful school year.” 

Teachers and students worked together to transform the school into an exhibition of social and political trends and events. They featured popular music, television shows, movies, games, and clothing styles, as well as local, national, and worldwide events that shaped each decade.  

Students also competed in a math competition and a spelling bee, as well as athletic and artistic competitions, including singing, dancing, and acting contests.  

“Spirit week was an unforgettable experience for the students at my school,” eighth grader Dania Caraballo said.

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