Broadalbin-Perth Middle School hosted the 32nd annual Holly Jolly Volleyball tournament Friday, marking the official start of the holiday break for students.
“This is our Christmas present to the kids,” Superintendent of Schools Stephen Tomlinson said. “Students look forward to it, and I think it’s one of their favorite days of the year. It’s definitely one of my favorites.”
The tradition dates back to the late 1980s, and Tomlinson used to coordinate the tournament when he was a physical education teacher at BPMS in the early 1990s. Today, Tomlinson played on a team with his daughter, Haley, who is in eighth grade.
The tournament marks the culmination of a physical education unit on volleyball. Students form teams, each with a faculty captain, and many teams come up with creative names and coordinating t-shirts and accessories that add to the festive atmosphere.