The annual Wish Week display in the lower commons motivates and inspires CT students as the school unites around a very important cause: making a kid’s wish come true. This year the design was focused around the wish of Atlantis, as the theme is typically centered around a locale that relates to the wish. In order to execute this grand display, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears was necessary. It is estimated that roughly 500 people were working on the project. Of course the CT art department was the “anchor” to the project, with Mr. Greg Worthington’s vision and the various art classes contributing, but several other teachers took part as well as ILC students. With these different departments and students working towards something greater than themselves, this display represents more than just a wish, it represents a community. “But it’s not just about the boy with Leukemia it’s about how the community has risen to action together, that when the tide comes in all the sails raise together…It’s the type of thing where we really create an energy around the whole thing. It’s one thing to be dazzled but it’s really the hard work, blood sweat and tears that goes into a community effort creating that type of thing, that’s what also creates the heart,” said photography teacher, Mr. Michael Chimento.

“It’s gonna be bigger than last year,” comments NHS member Caitlin Kimes while handing some screws to her fellow volunteer. The groundwork of the aquarium was assembled during the evening of Jan. 25, 2018 by parent volunteers, CT staff members, and student volunteers in early preparation for Wish Week.

Poseidon’s Palace begins coming together as Maya Chiefa (10) (left) and Rebecca Barclay (10) (right) work on putting seaweed decorations on the aquarium display in the commons for this year’s CT wish kid, Jeremiah, on Jan. 26, 2018. ‘I like helping other people,” said Chiefa, this being her first year helping out with CT’s annual tradition of building a display for Wish Week.

Under the direction of Mr. Worthington, Barclay and Chiefa, along with other students in the Ceramics art class, worked together to assemble the display. “We’re doing something for a bigger cause than ourselves,” said Barclay, echoing Chiefa’s enthusiasm for the project. 

Smiling under the sea, Savannah Spencer (11), Sarah Torline (10), Sydnie Goodsen (11), and Aaliyah Acevedo (10) work together to decorate the aquarium display in the commons for this year’s Wish Week on Jan. 26, 2018.