This year’s First Friday brought the Upper School closer together and ready to face the upcoming school year. Whether it was the seniors playing lawn games on the Quad, the juniors writing and performing speeches in front of their classmates, the sophomores discussing their identities and making a class collage, or the freshmen building and racing cardboard boats in the pool, every class was able to bond as a group, and have fun in the process! See all the Dial‘s coverage from the day below.

Photos by Benjy Renton, Marc Rod, Bridget Barsanti, Pat Walker, Hunter Freedman, Georgia Panitz, and Lei Anne Rabeje. Video by Georgia Panitz. Infographic and Storify by Benjy Renton.

Here are some thoughts from some Hackley sophomores on the day:

“I learned a lot about icebergs and how they relate to human life and even though I may not see them day to day In a place like New York, I can still relate to them.” – Sophomore Demetra Yancopoulos

“The day’s been going pretty well, we’re working hard, we are learning a lot about diversity. Not taking the day off.” – Sophomore Chad Lasseter

“I was unpacking and digging deep within myself to reveal my true identity.” – Sophomore Matt Shalett

“I learned that it is very important to be open minded and not to make judgements when looking at somebody for the first time.” – Sophomore Michael Mezzacappa

“We compared personality to an iceberg and discussed how the deeper you get to know somebody, the more you learn about their inner self and we’re all different.” – Sophomore Cosima Boettner

“Today was a stepping stone in the lives of everyone in the sophomore grade.” – Sophomore Javon Coleman