Every fall, eighth-graders at Abington Friends School gather around sheets of cardboard, rolls of duct tape, and big ideas. The annual “Roogatta” — a portmanteau that combines “kangaroo” (AFS’s mascot) and “regatta” — has become a hallmark of middle-school life, blending physics, creativity, teamwork, and laughter.
Justin Solonynka, AFS’s Choral Director and a longtime member of the eighth-grade team, discussed how the Roogatta began, how it has evolved, and why it remains such a meaningful AFS tradition.
How did the Roogatta get started?
It actually grew out of a need for something new. For years, eighth-graders went on a rafting trip, but when that ended, we were looking for another shared challenge. I remembered seeing students at another school do a cardboard boat race and never forgot how fun and hands-on it was.
So, in 2016 or 2017, Mike McGlynn and I decided to give it a try. We put together a PowerPoint with the physics behind buoyancy and had the kids build their own cardboard boats. That first year was wildly successful, and it’s been a tradition ever since.
What’s the science behind it? How do you actually make cardboard float?
There’s a lot of physics involved. Kids have to learn about buoyancy, displacement, weight distribution. (Science teacher) Josh Goodstein gives them a primer on the math and physics. When it’s time for the actual event, we give them cardboard, utility knives, and duct tape. They get about two hours to build. It’s very intentional — everyone on the eighth-grade team plays to their strengths. I handle some logistics; Josh handles the science. It’s a great example of collaboration.
Purely mathematically, if you build the perfect cardboard boat, one single sheet can float about 187 pounds. We give the students three sheets, but not quite enough duct tape to make it easy! They learn quickly that design and material choices matter. We even run a mini-experiment ahead of time with index cards, pennies, and water, so they can see how shape and balance affect flotation.
Have you changed the format over the years?
We’re constantly tweaking it. Sometimes, we get it right. Sometimes, we learn lessons the hard way. The first year may have been the most successful because we had no idea what we were doing!
This year, I got cheaper duct tape but gave kids more of it. Terrible idea. We only had two boats actually make it across. But the footage is priceless. Even when they sink, the kids are grinning ear to ear.
What does a typical Roogatta day look like?
After that first week of school, we teach the science behind it and do the model-building activity. Then comes race day: we set out the cardboard, knives, and tape and assign students to mixed groups, so they’re collaborating beyond their usual circles.
They get about two hours to design and build before it’s time to launch. Some groups get creative and decorate their boats. Others spend all their tape making elaborate paddles that end up sinking immediately. Either way, it’s hilarious and joyful.
Sometimes, we’re in a pool, which is much easier to manage. In the early years, we were out in a lake, and I’d literally stand chest-deep holding the camera while the boats floated (or sank) by. Now, it’s usually waist-deep water, which invites just the right amount of chaos.
It sounds like there’s more to it than just racing boats.
This is the quintessential eighth-grade experience. After all, eighth grade is the crown jewel of middle school. Of course, the year is about preparing them academically, but even more so socio-emotionally, to be leaders that are comfortable digging deep to learn more about themselves and one another. One of the beats we are constantly hitting is to think about their legacy as a class: how they want to be remembered, how they care for one another, what kind of community they want to be. The Roogatta fits perfectly into that.
What’s the energy like when they finally race?
Pure joy. Laughter. Chaos. You’ll see it in the videos — huge smiles even as the boats collapse. They cheer for one another constantly. It’s a beautiful snapshot of who they are as a class.
Even when, like this year, only two boats make it, the shared experience is what matters. They’ve learned something about physics, about teamwork. And honestly, it’s something they probably will never do again, and that’s what makes it so wonderfully weird! Every year, it reminds me why I love this work. Even when the boats go down, the spirits always stay afloat.
Learn more about Abington Friends School and how it cultivates intellectual excellence, fosters strength of character, and supports the growth of each student’s unique talents.
