TAMPA – The cafeteria at Plato Collegiate Academy filled with students from every grade level last week, continuing what has become one of the school’s most cherished traditions: an all-school Thanksgiving celebration that brings together elementary, middle, and high school students for an afternoon of food and friendly competition.
Long tables stretched across the room, laden with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and generous slices of pumpkin pie. The meal offered students a chance to pause before the holiday break, gathering as a community rather than in their usual separate grade-level groups.
After lunch, the celebration moved outdoors for the main event: a flag football championship tournament. Teams representing different grades faced off in elimination rounds, with students cheering from the sidelines as each match determined who would advance. The competition continued through the afternoon until one team emerged victorious, claiming bragging rights until next year’s tournament.
The tradition reflects the academy’s commitment to building connections across age groups, creating moments where older students mentor younger ones and everyone shares in the same experience. For many students, the annual Thanksgiving gathering has become a highlight of the fall semester, marking the transition into the holiday season with a sense of school-wide unity.
Among the referees was Natalie Fisher a school graduate with strong bonds to the school community.
As the final whistle blew and the championship team celebrated, administrators were already looking ahead to next year’s event, when another round of students will gather to continue this growing tradition.
