Something strange was happening on campus Friday morning. Right at the front entrance, a massive scaled shape loomed over students as they walked in. Upstairs, in the middle of the main hallway, another one waited, its wings stretched into the hallway. Word spread fast: the dragons had come to Mid-Pen.

Of course, a closer look revealed the "dragons" for what they really were: two larger-than-life inflatables posted on both levels of campus. But the mystery didn't stop there. A handful of students were spotted in colorful dragon masks, handed out through the morning, while red dragon hats — goofy, oversized, and impossible to miss — bopped through the hallways. By the time the bell rang, it was clear something bigger than a one-day prank was underway.

It was the launch of Dragon Days, a brand-new tradition at Mid-Pen and the official kickoff celebration for our new Dragon identity. Friday marked the very first Dragon Day, and it won't be the last. This is a tradition Mid-Pen plans to celebrate for years to come. The whole community showed up ready to make it one worth repeating.

The centerpiece of the day was an extended lunch, transformed into a full-blown BBQ complete with field games. Cores kicked things off with a lively icebreaker game, before heading to the back field for the main event: a full-campus game of Red Light, Green Light. Even Dungee the Dragon got in on the action, our mascot weaving through the crowd and freezing mid-stride along with everyone else. The stakes were higher than usual, the winning core earning the honor of being first in line for food.

Smoke drifted up from the grills as the line snaked back from the patio, plates piling high before students scattered to find a spot. Giant Jenga towers teetered on the patio, students gathered around an oversized Connect 4 board cheering on each move, and the local ice cream cart drew its own steady line, scoops disappearing under an avalanche of sprinkles and toppings.

For a few hours, the entire student body and staffulty were together. No classrooms, no schedules, just community.

Just when it seemed the celebration couldn't get any better, Dragon Days saved its biggest surprise for last. Every student was gifted a red box emblazoned with flames along the sides and inside was a treasure trove of brand-new Dragon swag: stickers, squishies, temporary tattoos, keychains, branded M&Ms, pens, and even a link to order a free sweatshirt.

Tucked inside just four lucky boxes, though, was something extra special: a golden ticket, redeemable at the next community meeting for a surprise prize.

From the dragon "sighting" in the morning to the golden tickets at day's end, Friday was a joyous celebration of everything that makes Mid-Pen a community — and just the first chapter of a new tradition. Here's looking forward to more days spent celebrating our Dragon community, together.