Tiger Fest brings Eastview Middle School together through fun and competition

From obstacle course races and board games to firefighting and police demonstrations to trivia contests, Eastview Middle School students spent Friday  building memories and strengthening friendships during the school’s lively Tiger Fest celebration.

Held twice each year, the community-building event transformed the campus into a festival atmosphere filled with athletic challenges, team activities and interactive games designed to bring students and staff together outside the classroom.

The school field buzzed with excitement as members of the White Plains Police and Fire departments parked their vehicles on the field, giving students an up-close look at the equipment. Detective Fred Cianci introduced the students to his K-9 partner. 

Also on hand were emergency medical technicians who allowed the children to enter their ambulance.

Meanwhile, students tested their skills in obstacle-course races, swing apparatus activities and incline-running challenges that had participants competing to see how high they could climb.

Inside the school, students rotated through a wide variety of activities that mixed fun with teamwork and school spirit. Some students competed against members of the Junior Knicks, while others took part in math bingo, board games and a spirited Blooket online trivia competition featuring questions about Eastview Middle School.

Among the trivia questions were inquiries about Principal Leroy Dixon’s favorite cookie — oatmeal — and the street where the school is located.
Mr. Dixon said Tiger Fest is designed to help students form meaningful connections during a pivotal stage in their lives.

“At Eastview, this is the age of development where it’s a unique age between 10 and 14,” he said. “We know it is a height of adolescence, and with that it requires unique experiences — experiences that go beyond just reading and writing, but answering the question of how do we build community with children, because they will be together for the next six or seven years.”

Mr. Dixon, who singled out social studies teacher Vincenza Persampieri as a key figure behind event, said the activities help students create lasting memories.

“These activities are designed for students to cross teams, meet one another, engage in some fun and have some memories that they take with them as they transition to the seventh grade,” he said. “We believe fundamentally that this is what it takes to build community. It’s part of the other side of instruction.”

Throughout the day, students could be seen cheering each other on, laughing with classmates and working together in friendly competition — all reinforcing the festival’s central mission of strengthening the Eastview school community.