Despite the chance of rain, the school hosted their annual 1609 showcase, an open house-like event, on Mar. 13. It was open to students and those in the West Covina community wanting to learn more about the school. 1609 provides insight into what the school has to offer through various club booths and programs who can connect with incoming freshmen and the community. Additionally, the event also included games, club activities, food trucks, and ended with a night rally in the gym.
The school’s Instagram advertised the event daily as the date approached.
“A showcase of over 65 years of excellence in academics, athletics, arts, and activities,” stated @westcovinahighschool via Instagram.
The school’s Advanced Via Individual Determination (AVID) program held an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m., one hour before the showcase began. It began at 6 p.m. and lasted an hour and a half to give visitors time to explore the club and program booths along with a night rally beginning at 7:30 p.m..
The event consisted of about 30 club booths, around half of them being sports booths. Alongside the booths were various other activities including photobooths, a table with honor roll recognition certificates, inflatables, interactive art, table games and more.
Principal Charles Park felt the event is a way to showcase what students have to offer and hopes the incoming students found something that interested them.
“1609 is a celebration. It’s a celebration of our students and their work and a celebration of our school’s academics, our school spirit, our athletics, our activities and the arts. I hope that they’ll find something that they will really love doing here at West Covina High School, that they’ll find their passion and that it will put them on a path to their legacy, and find things that will get them ready for the real world,” Park said.
Teachers were in the cafeteria for people to visit and ask questions about the classes they offer. World history, economics and government teacher Avery Mischin hopes to help students learn something valuable about her classes.
“I love being able to work with students and get to know their personalities. I hope they gained a new insight on how many opportunities are out there in high school. I hope students take advantage of the opportunities,” Mischin said.
In addition to the activities, food vendors such as Birrieria El Patron, Italia Pasta e Pizza and Nena’s Gourmet Popcorn sold different types of foods and snacks. Club booths also sold food such as Project: HER’s esquites, Class of 2027’s boba, DUB C.’s aguas frescas and Team968 RAWC’s hot dogs.
Usually, 1609 intends to welcome incoming freshmen as a way to become familiar with what the school has to offer and the campus layout. Link Crew, a program of students dedicated to guiding freshmen in their first year of high school, set up their tent for the current 8th graders to visit. Link Crew members gave the current eighth graders a 1609 “passport,” a slip with different clubs listed where they had to get signatures from each of the different booths or departments as a way for them to familiarize themselves with the school and earn a free class t-shirt.
Although most of the activities were similar to the past showcases, there were some that were not present this year, one of them being the dunk tank. Rain was expected for the day and although it stopped before the event, the weather remained cold and windy.
To conclude the 1609 showcase, the Performing Arts Academy (PAA) presented various performances to the attendees such as performances from drumline, jazz band, DUB C., and color guard which often organize a performance specifically for 1609. DUB C. choreographer Charlyn Badoles hopes that their performance had an impact on the incoming students.
“I hope that this encouraged incoming students to join the dance department,” said Badoles.
The 1609 showcase will continue to serve as a basis for incoming students who are looking to fulfill their interests and discover a pathway in high school that is right for them.
