NHS’ annual wish week fundraiser brings the school community together and supports a wonderful cause.
Two years ago, the National Honors Society executive board brought the idea of a fundraiser called ‘Wish Week’ to WHS. The fundraiser entailed teacher change wars where all funds donated were to be raised for the Make A Wish foundation, a nationwide nonprofit organization that supports bringing the dreams of chronically or terminally ill children to life. Each teacher would have a student representative who will help raise money the whole week to beat their teacher-student duo rivals.
“I remember that the first year we did wish week, I just knew I wanted to do it when I joined NHS,” said senior and NHS vice president Emily Bedolla. “It’s so fun watching people start to scramble for money on the last couple days.”
In the third rendition of the fundraiser, the 2026 wish week went a little differently. Instead of individual teacher battles, teacher duos teamed up to go against their opposing team, with two to three students on their side rather than one. Another new addition to the fundraiser included daily games at lunch where students can pay to play a game where the prize is taking points off of a team of their choosing.
Tensions rose between rivaling teachers that openly campaigned in the hallway, making the freshman wing a war zone. One couldn’t walk to lunch without hearing Mr. Hawks or Ms. Schoof bargaining with students in the hallway for money in their jar instead of another’s.
“Teacher participation in the event this year was definitely higher,” stated junior and wish week team captain Sofia Barajas-Gutierrez. “Last year, I don’t think there was nearly as much campaigning than there was this year. It was more student-driven before.”
Wish Week is not all fun and games, though; the loser of each battle is to be pied in the face and then dunked with water in front of the entire school at the March Madness assembly run by student council on the last day of school before spring break. The pie-and-wash is set to happen right after the student vs. staff basketball game, so make sure you don’t miss it!
“Mrs. Johnston is definitely not excited for the punishment,” said junior Lyric McPhee. “Every class during wish week she would tell us that we have to donate to her since she doesn’t want to be pied.”
Unfortunately for Mrs. Johnston, she lost her team battle and WILL be pied by her victors. The winners in each matchup include: Mr. Kalis and Mrs. Rogers over Mr. Doyle and Mr. Zajac, Mr. Hawks and Mrs. Hawkins over Ms. Schoof and Mrs. Jackson, and Ms. Bunton and Mr. Warners over Mrs. Johnston and Mr. Gurk.
Regardless of winning and losing, all team captains and participants are proud that they were able to support a good cause.
“Wish Week was a lot of fun,” said junior and wish week team captain Thao Le. “I’m glad we got to raise money, but I’m still happy that our team won.”
