Last week, the atmosphere at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria changed significantly when the sophomore class changed out of their standard khaki and navy uniforms and donned colorful flowing dresses, papal garb, army uniforms and cloaks of death, all reflecting themes of the Renaissance.

Each 10th-grader prepared a visual display on some facet of life during the 14th to 17th centuries. While many displays centered on European countries, there were also some that explained the time period from the perspective of Asian countries, native Americans and other inhabitants of the world.

The afternoon Renaissance Fair not only provided the opportunity for the rest of the school to view the students’ displays, but parents and teachers also roamed the halls and talked to the students about their topics.

This annual Ireton tradition provides an opportunity for students to merge what they have learned about history with their creative interests. Display themes varied from religion to the roles of women, from art and music, to fencing and warfare. Students were given leeway to "think outside the box." Heather Drury and Sarah Foroughi dressed up as two-thirds of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Leonardo and Donatello — who were named after Renaissance painters. Their displays reflected the art of the artists their shelled-superheroes were named after.