St Rose of Lima School celebrated the fall season in a big way with its annual Pumpkin Bowl event on Thursday, October 16.

The Pumpkin Bowl is a playful fall tradition where the school’s eighth grade homerooms compete in a game of flag football. This year, the eighth graders were split into two teams: Team Dunkin’ Donuts and Team Starbucks. Students wore a branded t-shirt representing their quick-service restaurant, with Team Dunkin’ Donuts wearing orange and Team Starbucks wearing green.

Teachers and staff took students from every grade outside to the Saint Rose field and sat on the sidelines, excitedly cheering on their team of choice before the game started.

Many even wore Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts paper headbands they decorated to support their favorite team, featuring phrases like “Go Starbucks!” or “Let’s Win Dunkin’!” in bright orange and green letters. Beyond that, some students showed their fall spirit by painting pumpkins on their face.

After some opening words by Father Peter Cipriani, pastor of St Rose parish, Team Starbucks and Team Dunkin’ Donuts faced off on the field. The cold, windy weather did not stop students on both teams from giving it their all. However, Team Starbucks ultimately pulled through for the win.

Seventh graders surprised everyone for their halftime show, a dance performance set to a dubstep remix of the Jurassic Park theme song. The students went all out for the performance, with some dressed as Jurassic Park rangers and others dressed in inflatable dinosaur costumes.

The Pumpkin Bowl has been an annual tradition for nearly a decade, with St Rose Principal Dr Bardhyl Gjoka saying that students and staff look forward to it every year. Gjoka said it used to be called the Turkey Bowl and was played late in November right around Thanksgiving. However, because it would get so cold at that time of year, Gjoka said they moved the event to October.

“We couldn’t keep the name Turkey Bowl obviously, so we named it Pumpkin Bowl because October is known and associated with pumpkins,” Gjoka explained. “We really wanted to figure out a good time for it since it’s a day we celebrate school-wide. The entire school is involved one way or another.”

Gjoka said this year is particularly special because students took charge in organizing the event.

He added, “It’s completely student-driven this year; we have done exactly what our students wanted us to do.”

Sister Thaddeus Rajca, CSFN, the religion teacher and spiritual director at St Rose, said she “couldn’t be more excited” to see everyone have fun at the Pumpkin Bowl.

“I love to participate in all that the children do,” Rajca said. “It brings me so much joy to see them so happy and to do everything I can to make days like today special for them, too.”

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.