Grace Sharma

Students take taffy from the tables in Nobel Commons. “Get the word out and let everyone know,” principal Michael Mukai said. “We want to share this moment before we go away [for spring break].”

Yesterday morning, Jefferson students walked into school to see tables filled with taffy candies. Containing flavors ranging from strawberry to watermelon to orange, Jefferson students and staff were invited to take and share the taffy with others.

“It is the last day before spring break, it is our last chance to see each other [before] we leave for a week,” principal Michael Mukai said. “I just wanted to say thank you for coming on this last day, [and have] a chance to celebrate together. Spring break is about going out with friends and hanging out with family, having great times and growing up.”

A classic candy that gets sold at beaches throughout the country, the Jefferson administration ordered hundreds of taffy for students, with preparation happening about a month earlier.

“This is from [the] Taffy Town from where I grew up,” Mukai said. “It’s from a shop from when I was a little kid.”

As students walked into school in the morning, the tables full of taffy were able to provide more joy right before spring break.

“I was surprised that there was candy in the middle of the hallway,” sophomore Cassidy Lee said. “It was a little overwhelming because there were a lot of colors and lots of tables, but it was a good surprise to have.”

The staff were also invited to enjoy the taffy in the morning.

“I remembered that spring break was hours away, and I thought it was super fun that we [could] kick off the Friday before spring break with something fun,” counselor Kacey McAleer said.

Everyone was encouraged to share taffy with others to spread excitement and cheer before break.

“I just want to share it with [everyone], so everyone needs to grab taffy,” Mukai said. “As long as it gets eaten, I want everyone to share it with each other. If you grab a handful, share it with other kids, other teachers. We want to share this time with our friends and our family. It’s just a way to say we’ll miss you for a week and we’ll see you soon.”