Tick tock?students turn their heads to look at the clock. When the bell rang students grabbed their books, went to their lockers and rushed with anticipation to French class. For the first time in the class’ history, French I celebrated Mardi Gras on Feb 24.

“French I classes celebrated Mardi Gras with a party and by playing games,” Mark Ferguson,” French teacher, said. “We did this to learn about the French culture and its influence in the New Orleans area.”

Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday. It is a celebration in which people eat and party one last time before Lent. Lent is a 40-day period of time in which many Christians and Catholics give up some the pleasures, such as chocolate, candy and television in order to focus more clearly on the Lord.

Holly Furtado, ’06, and Bethany Morton, ’06, planned the event and brought all the food and games.

“We wanted to celebrate a holiday that originated from France because people often don’t know the actually tradition of Mardi Gras,” Morton, said. “This experience showed students what it actually was about, and not the dirty perverse image everyone thinks of it.”

Though some students liked the idea of celebrating Mardi Gras, some did not think Morton and Furtado would follow through.

“When Morton and Furtado said that they were going to plan it and bring food I didn’t actually think they were going to follow through,” Kyle Brewer, ’07, said. “It was fun and I would like to do something like that again.”” “Holly Furtado, Guest photographer” “With Mardi Gras masks already distributed, Britney Motte, ’07, left toright, Angela Kutnerian, ’06, Kyle Brewer, ’07, and Bethany Morten, ’06, played a bead word game in French I class on Feb. 24.” “Holly Furtado, Guest photographer” “French teacher Marc Fergson made sure students were using appropriate language in French I during the Fat Tuesday party on Feb. 24. AnnaLynn Graham, ’07, right, also tries to catch a peer in using incorrect language during one of the games.” “Insert text here