What are the chances that a celebrity would come to your high school and perform a free private concert? Honestly, the probability is so slim that it is laughable. It is no wonder Bishop Ireton High School students are still in a state of disbelief weeks after last month’s field day.
After thousands of texts and votes online, the student body learned just the day before that their suspicions were true: they had won Verizon’s contest for a free private concert by top country singer Taylor Swift.
When students pulled into the parking lot that Tuesday, there was an indescribable sense of excitement in the air. With Taylor Swift music blaring, some students had a pancake-tailgate party in the school’s parking lot with car windows painted, “I love Taylor Swift!”
When the students in their student-designed field day shirts walked into school that day they would experience a field day like no other. With a charity basketball tournament, faculty verses students sports, outdoor games and last but certainly not least, the private Taylor Swift concert, Bishop Ireton’s field day was certainly a day to remember.
On the field, students slid down the waterslide, jumped on the moon bounce, raced through obstacle courses and had dance revolution competitions. Face painting was especially popular and it was not uncommon to see faces with the initials “T.S.” Thanks to Verizon’s generosity, students made their own free Taylor Swift music videos and received Ireton-Swift posters.
One of the biggest highlights was the tour of the Verizon Mobile Recording Studio bus, where Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and the Black Eyed Peas have recorded. After a few hours of fun, the Ireton body watched student-formed teams play basketball and raise money for a good cause in the Fouron- Four Habitat for Humanity Basketball Tournament. Then each class cheered as their representatives competed in tricycle races and a tug-of-war with the junior boys winning over all the other classes and the faculty.
After lunch, the student body gathered in the auditorium for the concert. Before the show, a few lucky students from each grade met Taylor and took pictures with her. For an hour, Swift and her band gave an amazing performance with hits like “Love Story” and “Teardrops on My Guitar,” and even a stunning remix of Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around.” A huge screen behind Swift magnified the performance.
Each year, the entire student body and faculty comes together on field day to have fun and emphasize teamwork and school spirit before final exams begin. However, this year’s was certainly a once in a lifetime event.
Junior Amanda Krauss summed it up best. “This field day was incredible. You could see the unity as everyone was singing along during the concert.” The school celebrated its determination and school spirit that had truly paid off. Without a doubt, Bishop Ireton’s field day was a remarkable surprise that was well worth the thousands of votes we cast.
