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Regressing for good reason

Gulf High IB sophomores put on a Renaissance Festival that entertains and educates the whole school.

By MICHELE MILLER
Published October 18, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - Mix a little European history with some modern ingenuity and you might just find a way for kids to joust 21st century-style.

That's what Casey Walker and David Brackett did for a special project capping off their studies in an Advanced Placement European History class that focused on the Renaissance era.

The two 15-year-olds started by constructing a ramp using plywood and old black metal music stands. Creepers - wheeled platforms used by mechanics to fix the undersides of cars - became "horses" at the top of the ramp. Give the rider or "knight" one of those big white foam noodles to use as a sword, provide a little push, and there you have it.

"We've had a lot of kids line up to do it," Casey said. "They seem to like to whack each other."

The jousting event was part of the Renaissance Festival hosted last Thursday by sophomores in the International Baccalaureate program at Gulf High School.

During their history classes, students from throughout the school were invited to stroll the grounds, have their fortunes told and perhaps take part in an educational scavenger hunt.

"We're actually learning something," said April Muss, 15, whose jeans and "Fall Out Boy" backpack seemed a little out of place among the gown-clad ladies and lords in tights roaming the grounds.

"I love the Renaissance. It's all about art," she said as she and Christina Pilat, 16, moved from booth to booth collecting educational Renaissance clues for a scavenger hunt that had been assigned by their history teacher, Jana Bigley.

Other activities included trying to climb Jacob's Ladder, taking in the Punch and Judy puppet show or learning how to juggle from Joseph Kanaan.

"I just learned two days ago," Joseph, 16, said while juggling. He added a bright red felt collar he made himself to the jester outfit he rented from a local costume shop.

About 54 students put on the event at the school, said teacher Claudia Alwood.

"And they're all here," said a delighted Alwood, who wore a long green velvet dress and gold crown.

Those students were required to come up with a costume and a booth where they could sell a service or wares they had made themselves: glittery crowns, potpourri sachets and "jeweled" necklaces that back in the day could be bewitched with love or a curse. Money raised from the event will benefit the IB program, Alwood said.

Not only were they required to dress in period costume, but the students had to talk the talk and educate those in attendance.

"Hello, my ladies," said Christy Jones, 15, as she greeted potential buyers who sidled up to her booth to check out the sachets and posies she had made with classmate Ashley Martinez, 15.

"These would have been used to protect you or bring you love, prosperity or good health," Christy said. "Or you can put them under your pillow for good dreams."

Steven Chin, 15, doled out lessons on knighthood to those who lined up to "Spear the Hole." He built and manned the game with classmates, Nick Somerville, 15, Mario Talanga, 16, and Matthew Ong, 15.

"It's really a lot of fun," said Steven, who was dressed in chain armor - a knight's "casual attire" - rather than the full metal armor "you usually see in the movies."

"This is pretty cool," jester Wesley Hussey, 15, said of the festival. "It's a fun way to learn. The best way to learn is to experience it, right?"

[Last modified October 18, 2006, 07:45:13]