March 29, Monday, Colégio M, 7:30 AM – Gincana, Day 1
After a quiet and peaceful weekend, the week began. But it was no ordinary day, or rather, this was no ordinary week.
The school atmosphere was festive, and all attention was on the covered gym, where students from all grades were gathering.
Today, the gym was prepared, but not for sports practice. The whole space was more colorful, contrasting with the usual gray. Decorations of crepe paper and balloons in red, white, and blue filled the area, these were the school uniform colors, now with an even greater significance.
All of this indicated just one thing: the school Gincana was starting. Teacher Mira was already at her post to make the big announcement on a stage specially set up for the day.
"GOOD MORNING TEAMS! GOOD MORNING COMPETITORS! TODAY WE START THE GINCANA! ARE YOU EXCITED!?" she announced with more energy than usual.
The color-coded team shirts separated the students, who sat in their respective blocks around the gym. Excitement was palpable, hearts beating faster, waiting to cheer for their team. Little flags waved, and some even brought tambourines to make noise and further energize the event.
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!" the students shouted in unison, excited.
After the response, Mira continued:
"HOW WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU ALL HAPPY AND ENERGETIC! THE LONG-AWAITED OPENING OF THIS YEAR'S GINCANA AND SCHOOL GAMES IS HERE! THE THEME THIS YEAR, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS THE ENVIRONMENT! NOW LET'S ENJOY THE OPENINGS AND CHEERLEADING! STARTING WITH THE RED TEAM, FROM THE FIRST YEAR!"
The stage was now for the students, and the professor moved toward the judges' table, leaving space for the students to take their positions. The order of the performances followed the grade levels, starting with the First Year.
Every year, the First Year performances were known for being complex and full of elements. After all, the First Year marked the students' debut as team leaders, and they wanted to show their full potential to the judges and seniors.
Everything available could be used to demonstrate creativity, and this year was no exception. The opening performance would consist of multiple artistic elements carefully planned by the most enthusiastic members of the team.
Akiko, from the First Year, and another student from the seventh grade, dressed as trees, stepped onto the stage. Each positioned themselves at a corner of the stage.
On the floor at the edge of the stage, Pistch stood in front of a microphone holding the school poetry book. She began to recite her own poem, Natureza, selected for the book, while a theatrical performance unfolded.
Nature is in our hands,
Not in the hands of heartless men.
We must fix what's been undone,
Or we'll lose the future we've just begun.
We should plant more seeds.
To harvest the fruits of our needs.
For water, we must give thanks,
For it flows through our tanks.
We must care for Nature's grace,
And not leave trash in its space.
Men think money buys all.
But they don't buy our future at all.
What can be done to Nature that made us born?
Will we end with it until it's all gone?
During the performance, the trees, played by Akiko and the seventh-grade student, were joyful, smiling for being in their place in nature.
However, fire arrived, represented by two eighth-grade students. The flames came from neglect and drought. They danced chaotically, reaching one of the trees.
The burning was portrayed through a dance around the tree, showing that it had been struck and destroyed. The student portraying one of the trees fell to the ground, motionless.
The remaining tree, Akiko, filled with sorrow, began to cry for her fallen companion. Meanwhile, the destructive fire approached her, and she realized her end was near.
Then, a miracle occurred: two firefighters, played by two fifth-grade students, arrived to protect nature. The tree filled with hope and joy and began to smile again at their arrival.
The fire realized it had no chance against them and knelt, begging for mercy. But the firefighters did not yield to the pleas and extinguished the two students representing the destructive fire, saving the day.
The opening performance ended, but the war cry was yet to be presented. The theater actors stood on stage, in front of their team, now fully in red, and led the cheer, which everyone repeated:
"WE ARE THE FIREFIGHTERS, AND WE CAME HERE TO PROTECT, WITH PROWESS AND SKILL, OUR PROUD DUTY IS TO COMBAT THE FIRE MADE BY DROUGHT AND TO SAVE THE FOREST! LET'S GO, FIREFIGHTERS!"
The team cheered in unison, all animated. Aino and Minami were radiant, shouting the chant with great vigor. Miyu followed the flow, confused, and glanced to the side to see Yukino equally lost. Everyone had been required to participate in the opening to "make volume."
Thus ended the complete presentation of the Red Team. They returned to their seats, waiting for the next stage.
Teacher Mira appeared on stage again to comment on the just-completed performance.
"What was that, my friends!? That was a beautiful presentation from the First-Year class! This lovely poem by Pistch is available in our school poetry book, in the library!" Mira said, genuinely moved, tears in her eyes. But the show had to go on, so she called the second team:
"Now let's move on to the White Team, from the Second Year!"
There was a pause to set up the Second Year's performance. Usually, the Second Year opted for simpler presentations, as they had already debuted last year. Leading was no longer a novelty. Still, they wanted to impress, preparing costumes and scenery.
The stage was set. Two fifth-grade students stood at each corner holding cardboard ice mountains, painted with tempera, representing the glaciers of the South Pole.
A Second-Year student dressed as a polar bear took the stage, representing the iconic animal. A sixth-grade student stood beside, wearing a penguin costume.
Thus, the animals of frozen environments were properly represented. The rest of the team positioned themselves in front of the stage, holding a large white sheet above their heads, likely representing snow.
The performance began with a sad, melancholic instrumental piece. The two fifth-grade students dropped the ice mountains to the floor, representing the glaciers melting due to global warming.
The students then lay on the floor. The front-row performers pushed the white sheet forward. The bear acted dizzy and fell to the ground. The penguin suffered from the heat and also fell. By this moment, the white sheet completely covered the floor. The students on stage remained still. Meanwhile, those in front shouted the war cry with strength and energy:
"GLACIERS, GLACIERS! WE ARE MELTING! BEARS, PENGUINS, THE ANIMALS ARE DYING. HELP US OUT! HELP OUR LIVES! OR WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"
How tragic! thought Adonis, a Second-Year student participating in the front with the white sheet.
The performance concluded, and the students returned to their seats, removing the stage elements.
This time it was Teacher Rubi's turn to comment. She was the school dance teacher, a black woman with an athletic build and short, fiery red-orange hair. She spoke emotionally:
"Thank you, White Team! Silent theater is full of meaning! The beauty of melting glaciers, cute animals losing their lives. The sheet covering the students representing the ice melting, it touched our hearts! I hope these animals find a better future with young people like you!" She paused to catch her breath and continued:
"Now the Blue Team, the Seniors, with their final-year presentation! As it is their last year, they are performing a farewell act!"
Time was given for the Third-Year students to set up their performance. The last-year openings were usually simple, as they were already exhausted and aware of the intense studying ahead for college entrance exams. They often chose the shortest or simplest performances, focusing on a powerful cheer at the end.
The stage had a blue sheet covering the floor. Paper boats and plastic fish, like those used in fishing games at festivals, were placed on top.
The performance started quietly, like a calm ocean. Everything looked beautiful and under control. Suddenly, four students appeared, each in a corner, laughing slyly and throwing trash into the "ocean." pretending to enjoy polluting it.
Then, two students with whistles appeared, driving the four away. These were Naoko and her Senior-year colleague. With the troublemakers removed to the sound of whistles, the day was saved, and the performance ended.
The two students positioned themselves in the center of the stage, facing their team, and led the war cry:
"OCEANICS WILL HELP! THERE WON'T BE POLLUTION! LEAVE OUR AQUATIC ANIMALS ALONE! YOU CAN COUNT ON THE OCEANICS!"
The crowd cheered, and the team returned to their seats. The Third-Year students involved collected the stage elements, restoring order.
Teacher Rubi returned to the stage, very emotional and happy, and said a few words:
"Beautiful! Seniors are always special and profound! Thank you all for these wonderful performances! THE GINCANA HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED!"
During the first day, there were no classes, but attendance was recorded for control. The goal was for participants in the contests to be at ease and for the others to cheer for their classmates.
After the opening, students went for a snack, and the morning continued with artistic presentations. There were singing and instrument contests, where students from fifth grade to Seniors could showcase their musical skills.
Various styles were demonstrated: pop, rock, regional music, and even lyrical singing. Instruments varied from guitar, piano, and violin to flute and even saxophone.
Next, there were team dance performances. Akiko stood out performing a pop-rock song by the most famous singer of the moment, Ayu. She was the lead dancer, wearing a pink fringe dress that swayed with her well-choreographed movements.
The day went on as normal, and all went to sleep, eager to see what the second day of the Gincana would bring.