SCVi Charter School is opening its doors to the entire community on Friday as it hosts Expresstival 2016, an open house and festival for the entire family featuring a performance by a band led by the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

The event is scheduled 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday at SCVi, 28060 Hasley Canyon Road. Admission is free, and food including hamburgers and hot dogs will be available for purchase. Some activities, including an inflatable obstacle course and a facilitator dunk tank, will be ticketed, with tickets costing $1 each.

“Those who visit us for Expresstival 2016 are in for a real treat,” said Brittney Westover, music facilitator for the tuition-free public charter school’s upper campus. “There’s going to be great food, games, a petting zoo and excellent entertainment from our guest performers as well as some of SCVi’s most artistic students.”

Headlining the event will be SpongeBob and the Hi-Seas Band, featuring Tom Kenny, the voice of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants.

“Everyone who loves the quirky humor of SpongeBob will get a kick out of SpongeBob and the Hi-Seas Band,” Westover said.

Expresstival 2016 will also feature live musical and theatrical performances from students, a young entrepreneur faire with learner-created goods for sale, face painting, displays of learner projects and hands-on activities.

SCVi is the founding campus of iLEAD Schools, which emphasizes a learner-centered, project-based approach to TK-12 education. The tuition-free public charter schools strive to prepare students with the social, emotional and cognitive skills they’ll need to succeed and lead, in college and beyond.
Malaka Donovan, an iLEAD Leadership Resident working with Westover to coordinate the Expresstival, said the event offers not only an afternoon of family fun, but also a chance for community members to learn more about SCVi.

“We’ll have some excellent student performances, and visitors will also have a chance to check out our campus and see the benefits of iLEAD’s approach to learning,” Donovan said. “We’re looking forward to a great afternoon of fun and welcoming the community to see what SCVi is all about.”