The Accolade Editorial Board voted 19-2 to continue a second year of the Parent Teacher Student Association’s [PTSA] “A Taste of IFF [International Food Festival]” as it provided students, especially freshmen, with the opportunity to practice their performances in front of an audience before the real event, raised money for student benefits such as Grad Nite and scholarships and shared with parents a significant part of Sunny Hills culture.

Full disclosure: Of the 21 members on our editorial board, only two attended PTSA’s inaugural fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 6, in the evening at the gym. And they were among those performing with their cultural clubs at “A Taste of IFF.”

Interestingly enough, each shared opposing views on whether the PTSA should initiate a second outing next year and then eventually establish it as a Lancer tradition. 

After weighing such differences, we decided that continuing with “A Taste of IFF” for another year — if not years to come — will benefit the school as the proceeds that the PTSA collects will eventually go back to benefit the student body or the campus facilities. 

Here’s a simple breakdown of where we stand on the logistics of the event:

• $5 entry fee for adults and students; free for students with an Associated Student Body Gold Card

While the event is free for students as a school assembly, the $5 proves a reasonable and worthwhile price for the audience to get an early preview of the five clubs’ cultural showcases, especially since the eve of the actual assembly has traditionally been dubbed a dress rehearsal. Actually, PTSA was able to raise almost $6,000, and its president, Tharwa Ahmad, said they plan on making it an annual tradition. Although the clubs performed facing the bleachers on the right side, both sides of the gym showed high attendance with less on the left end of the gym. Next year, with more than a month or two of promotion, we wouldn’t be surprised to see an even larger crowd show up than the approximate 75% capacity on that day. 

• family involvement, as other members could come to watch the performers 

While in the past, parents helping with the food preparation for the nearly one-hour-long lunch fest could potentially watch their children from the gym’s sidelines, this event opens it up to siblings, grandparents and other relatives to watch without having to squeeze through so many people to get some good pictures or videos. It also serves as an opportunity for younger siblings to enroll and perform during their high school years since IFF is exclusive to Sunny Hills and a big part of our tradition. 

• three food trucks at the event offering Mexican and Asian fusion foods as well as coffee and shaved ice 

The food trucks made it easy for both performers and attendees to grab a meal before and during the event. The costs were reasonable, with Mexican tacos and meal plates being offered at prices under $20. Traditionally, students observe the assembly on the Friday of the energy-filled week and proceed to buy food from booths that represent different countries during the one-hour lunch break. This offered a similar experience and allowed parents to, quite literally, get “A Taste of IFF.” In the following years, we hope our budget allows for more food options that relate to the performing culture clubs — perhaps a spicy Hyderabadi biryani from India or a delectable chicken adobo from the Philippines, both of which are usually served on the IFF day. 

• first-time performers got to experience “A Taste of” the “real deal” before the official assembly

New club members and freshmen, in particular, received the chance to get a feel of performing in front of a full audience. With some flaws, such as missed dance moves and audio issues undoubtedly present, it allowed them to learn how to adapt and prepare for any obstacles on an actual day. While a dress rehearsal without an audience would replicate the physical aspect, it wouldn’t mimic the feeling of performance jitters with hundreds of eyes watching. 

Before we address the concerns of the minority, we believe it’s necessary to establish the context as to how PTSA came up with this activity. The organization originally planned a fall semester fundraiser called the Black and Gold Night which was set to take place on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Los Coyotes Golf Course. During the event, student performances were set to take place along with a raffle in which the biggest prize was to get front row seats at the senior graduation ceremony. 

But it got canceled because of a lack of interest. This eventually led to its leaders brainstorming about alternative ways to raise funds without having to create something from scratch.

Since parents overcrowding the gym to watch their children perform on the actual assembly day was a known problem, the PTSA saw the opportunity to provide a separate event on another date and time and then craft it as a fundraiser.

While this might come across as insincere and unnecessary, as the PTSA only consulted with school officials and not student leaders, some could scrutinize it as a money grab. Why charge for admission to what is normally a free event and for something in which only the students were center stage, not the PTSA? 

In the end, though, we applaud the PTSA for its efforts to find ways to raise money to keep Grad Nite at Disneyland going and to offer scholarships for students. And if guests are willing to pay $5, they should feel that the cost is money well spent. Perhaps if “A Taste of IFF” begins its sophomore campaign, parents can create their own cultural group to join the student clubs and perform something educational for the audience — just for that one night.

Next year, instead of holding “A Taste of IFF” one day before the real assembly, it would be better to conduct it perhaps a week before to avoid the rush and chaos of getting ready for the next day. That way, the cultural clubs can go back to their normal routine of a stress-free dress rehearsal.

No matter what, just don’t forget to involve some student club or Associated Student Body leaders in the decision-making process. That would truly represent a taste of … teamwork.