Come Out and Try Your Luck at Casino Night!
By Aaria Nair ’26, Staff Writer; Edited by Safiya Ahmed ’27, Staff Editor
On Saturday, 23rd November, our Mandeville ducks hosted their annual Casino Dance! All upper schoolers were invited to attend the event filled with games, snacks, dancing, and a little gambling of course!
Williams Hall looked spectacular with all the snazzy decor, including pictures of cards and dice on every wall, accompanied by the inviting sparkly board, tempting all passing students to join and have their share of fun! From 8 pm to 11 pm, various upper school Ridleans dropped by to try their luck.
Let’s not forget, this night wouldn’t have been possible without our dedicated teachers! Different teachers came in to host a variety of games, making our night even more special by being tremendous hosts. Poker, hosted by Mr. Lockey and Mr. Bowen, along with Blackjack with Mr. Kenny and Mr. Theal were major hits. It was definitely entertaining to watch our competitive Ridley spirit come out in this context, the night sure did get wild towards the end! For our less experienced gamblers, there was Crown and Anchor, hosted by Ms. Mugan and Mr. Schwandt, along with Pig Races with Mr. Pavan and Mr. Callahan. Though students were certain they figured out the trick to Pigs Races by the end, it most certainly surprised us with new winners each time! There was a special table with UNO cards, giving participants a nice break from all the gambling, and allowing them to have fun with friends. With these engaging games going all night, students were keen on buying more chips, and helping raise funds for Mandeville’s house charity!
But folks, that was not all. Along with game stalls, Williams was decorated with fairy lights, inviting students to come to the dance floor! The DJ played awesome tunes all night, allowing participants to go and vibe to their favourite song, and rock a few moves. There were also delicious snacks! Always the best part of these events. There were Doritos, and Lays packets, which were fan favorites, along with drink refreshments like juice, and good ol’ H2O. The chocolate chip cookies, though, were the highlight.
A huge shoutout to our student volunteers, who were also a major part of the night. Hosting games, greeting visitors, and helping with setup and cleanup, they helped make the night possible, and made us all feel welcome! There were volunteers helping with Blackjack, as well as photographers, capturing the wonderful memories being made!
It was my first Casino Night, and I’ve got to say, it is one of the most unique traditions I’ve come across at Ridley. It’s a night filled with so much fun, laughter, and dancing, all for a good cause! Kudos to our dazzling ducks for putting on such a fabulous event, I sure will be back to try my luck next year!
