JACKSON, N.J. – What could be better than funnel cakes and fairgrounds after finals? On Monday, June 9, the Class of 2026 embarked on a “great adventure” to Six Flags Great Adventure to commemorate the end of junior year. Despite a rainy start to the day, the experience turned out to be one to remember. Between thrilling roller coasters, classic arcade games and plenty of fried food, the trip to the New Jersey park was the perfect start to the summer.
For many students, the rides were the highlight of the day, though favorites varied across the class.
Hayden Cushing (Form V) names Superman: Ultimate Flight as her top choice, saying, “We were suspended in the air and it was really cool.” The rollercoaster positions riders face-down in Superman’s signature flying pose and features a pretzel loop and a 115-foot drop.
Abigail Nadeau (Form V) enjoyed WONDER WOMAN™ Flight of Courage, a pendulum-style ride that swings riders more than 170 feet into the air at speeds reaching 75 miles per hour. For her, the long wait in line built up the anticipation and made the ride even more thrilling. Upper School Film Teacher Shaun Seneviratne, who chaperoned the trip, adds, “The Wonder Woman ride was a trip. The way it builds momentum is exciting and definitely a little scary, but there is a moment where for a second you’re suspended in the sky and can take in the splendor of the world before hurtling back down. Definitely the most poetic of the rides.”
Annabel Farmakis (Form V) found Medusa to be the most memorable ride of the day. The green coaster lives up to its classical namesake, featuring seven inversions across 3985 feet of track, which can leave even the bravest riders a little petrified.
Chloe Nieves (Form V) had a great time on the Jersey Devil Coaster, one of the world’s fastest single-rail coasters, reaching speeds of 58 miles per hour and spanning 13 stories high.
Then there was El Toro, a wooden roller coaster often hailed as one of the most intense and powerful of its kind in the world. Seneviratne calls it “the best ride for connoisseurs of amusement park rollercoasters.” Aarav Dalal (Form V) recalls, “My favorite ride was the ‘El Toro’ rollercoaster since I sat in the first seat and if I’m not mistaken, it’s the fastest ride there.” He continues, “During the ride, I had a genuine ‘fear for my life’ feeling. I think anyone who visits Six Flags Great Adventure should seriously consider taking on the ride!”
Perhaps no ride had more fans than Nitro, the gargantuan hypercoaster with a 215-foot drop, a 540-degree helix spiral and an entire mile of track. Riders can even catch a glimpse of Philadelphia from the top. Kiki Gilbert (Form V) comments, “It was fast and didn’t make me dizzy.” Maddie Martinez (Form V) enjoyed it so much that she rode it three times. Ella Odinec (Form V) also cited it as her favorite ride of the day.
Yet, others found simple joy in wandering the park. “I liked walking around and burning calories,” said Ari Dubner (V).
Overall, our six hours at Six Flags offered a welcome respite from the grueling final weeks of the academic year. On behalf of the Class of 2026, we’d like to thank Dean Drybala and all of the chaperones for organizing and joining us on this wonderful trip!
