Students at Oak Manor Sixth Grade Center didn’t have to sweat in hot classrooms Monday afternoon. Instead, they got to enjoy the 80-degree sunshine outside during the first annual Oak Manor End of the Year Carnival.

Usually, Oak Manor students celebrate the end of the year with Market Day, a daylong indoor event where each classroom becomes a separate store, selling different items to students and community members.

However, with the increase in required testing, explained Oak Manor teacher Cherie Schaller, there was little time to plan for Market Day.

So, the End of the Year Carnival was born.

“Kids came up with the theme,” Schaller said. “Classrooms came up with games.”

The theme for this year was “tropical.” Students made decorations and wore leis to fit the theme. The games included tropical versions of bowling, corn hole toss and musical chairs. Some of the more popular attractions at the carnival were the photo booth, inflatable obstacle course and plethora of food available to students.

Money from the Market Day account, the sale of $5 wristbands and the sale of food paid for the carnival, but it was the students who planned and ran it.

“The students run everything,” said Oak Manor Principal Molly Brawley. “With supervision, of course.”

Students interested in planning for the carnival formed a committee with representatives from each classroom. Committee members were required to attend weekly meetings to help plan for the event.

Each classroom was also asked to sponsor two games. The students then formed subcommittees to make sure that all the tasks were completed.

One student interested in planning for the carnival was Nevaeh Williams, co-chair of the planning committee.

“It was fun to form a committee and learn to work together,” Nevaeh said. “With us working together, it wasn’t too hard.”

Student Estephany Cuevas agreed.

“I sold tickets for food and wristbands, and I helped organize everything,” Estephany said. “It’s a fun experience to do this with friends.”

Parent volunteers and retired teachers were also on hand to help.

All of the money raised went directly toward the carnival, so the school will be making no extra profit. Both students and teachers agreed that, with the success of this year’s carnival, there will likely be plans for an end of the year carnival next year.