It’s Friday afternoon: a sense of anticipation still permeates the air, laced with the scent of cake frosting. Following that sweet smell, eager students file into a long, chattering line winding from Nichols down to the library. At its front, a table jam-packed with plates of cake from rich chocolate to strawberry holds their collective focus, inviting them with the enticing desserts.
On the last Friday of each month, members of administration host Cake Friday in front of Nichols Atrium. Head of Upper School Paul Barsky first hosted the event in 2022 to celebrate all student birthdays of the month, but students mistakenly believed that only those with birthdays during that month could claim a cake. Barsky then transitioned Cake Friday into a monthly community celebration open to all students and teachers.
Sophomore Ryan Pham chose a vegan vanilla-flavored cake with strawberries made by pastry chef Adam Albers and chatted with other students in line on his first Cake Friday.
“Cake Friday is important for the Harker community because you get a bunch of people together for 40 minutes,” Ryan said. “They’re there for the cake, and it brings people together.”
Administration expanded the event by selecting groups to co-sponsor it. In the past, Book Blog hosted a book swap in an adjacent booth, the varsity girls soccer team encouraged donations for Kicks for Cancer and the Cooking Club provided homemade cakes.
Assistant to Upper School Division Head Michelle Martinez manages logistics for Cake Friday, like cake orders, cutlery and tables. She often customizes the four cakes served at the event according to the time of the year.
“I always like to incorporate a theme if possible — in October, it’s Halloween. For November, I want to do a fall theme, and in December I want to do a winter theme,” Martinez said. In certain months, I’ll order one red velvet and then a carrot cake, or I’ll get fancy and order a coconut flavor, but usually I like to stick to traditional flavors: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry shortcake because that’s what people like.”
Music plays in the background from a customized playlist, enhancing the celebratory atmosphere. Last Friday, the event featured classic Halloween tunes like “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett and “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
Broadcasting with a megaphone, Barsky asks each student a question before offering them a slice of cake. The questions relate to the particular time of year or the team that co-hosts Cake Friday, like “What was the funniest moment from summer break?” or “What is your current favorite book?”
Senior Daniel Chen appreciated the lively atmosphere during the event and the wide selection of cakes, with his personal favorite flavor being red velvet.
“You usually think that being in the line is boring, but you get to hear the community around you,” Daniel said. “Everyone’s really happy, excited for cake and discussing [Mr. Barsky’s] question that’s gonna come up. You’re not bored and you know there’s cake coming.”
Barsky and Martinez hope to establish Cake Friday as one of the many other traditions held on campus by continuing to serve slices to the Harker community monthly.
“Cake Friday could be a long-lasting tradition,” Martinez said. “We did Nichols Cookie Day, where we were offering cookies on October 10th and then we did it for Miss Diane Nichols. Harker is a traditional type of place, so there’s always going to be traditions to uphold, and I think this will be one of them.”