CHESTERFIELD INLET - The revived spring carnival at Victor Sammurtok school was a huge hit with both students and staff in Chesterfield Inlet this past month.

Chris Putulik, Billie Jo Putulik, Thor Ittinaur, Christy Dawn Kukkiak and Trevor Autut, from left, head to the finish line during the Victor Sammurtok school spring carnival in Chesterfield Inlet this past month. - photo courtesy of Glen Brocklebank

The carnival revival was the brainchild of teacher Vickie Tanuyak who raised the idea at a staff meeting, took care of all the fundraising and prize donations, and planned and organized the entire event.

Students are placed into spirit teams named after animals each year at the school.

Teacher Glen Brocklebank said the spirit teams played a large role in the revamped carnival, with the teams competing against each other in Inukshuk building, a five-legged race and a sack race.

He said the Chesterfield Development Organization, Northern store and local Co-op all supported the festival in a big way.

"We also held a community scavenger hunt and a tug-of-war competition, which were both a lot of fun," said Brocklebank.

"The Bowhead spirit team went through the entire tug of war undefeated.

"They were named after the biggest animal and that's the way they played. After they beat all the other teams, they took on the teachers and staff and beat us too."

With only a few spirit days remaining for a team to be declared the winner and earn the right to host a big pizza party, the spring carnival was a chance for a few groups to make up some ground on the leaders.

The Chester students take the spirit teams very seriously.

Brocklebank said weekly spirit days such as wacky hair or jersey day are held throughout the year, as well as an annual broomball tournament and other big events for the students to earn points.

He said everyone had so much fun at the spring carnival, there's a good chance it will become an annual event once again.

"It was a real spirit builder for the school and Vickie (Tanuyak) deserves the credit for a super idea.

"Everyone was in competition, but they were having a great time and helping each other out throughout the various events.

"It really was nice to see the impact the carnival had on them.

"We had about a 90 per cent attendance rate during the carnival."