On February 20, John Paul II Catholic School transformed into a real-life Rainbow Road as students raced, built, and battled it out in an unforgettable Live Mario Kart event—an experience packed with creativity, collaboration, and Warrior spirit!

Inspired by the beloved game and brought to JPII by President David Lima, this high-energy event invited students to step into the driver’s seat—literally. Teaming up in mentor groups, each House designed, built, and raced three student-powered "karts", one for each leg of the course.

“This event is about so much more than racing,” said President David Lima. “It’s about creativity, teamwork, and giving students the opportunity to bring joy to campus in a hands-on, unforgettable way. I’ve seen the impact this can have, and it’s incredible to watch our students make it their own here at JPII.”

From PVC pipes and cardboard frames to glitter, flags, pool noodles, and bold paint designs, the campus became a workshop of imagination. Students took on key roles as drivers, engineers, course designers, and special effects teams, each contributing their unique talents to bring their karts to life.

The rules? Pure Mario Kart magic—with a JPII twist:

• Student-powered only (pedal, push, or foot-powered—no shortcuts here!)
• One rider per kart
• Steering and braking required (no dragging feet like Yoshi on a drift!)
• And of course… major points for appearance! 

The racecourse itself was a filled with twists, turns, water balloons, and flying colorful powder. But beyond the competition, the day was a celebration of the SHIELD values in action. From the roar of the crowd to the sparkle of wildly decorated karts, Live Mario Kart at JPII was more than an event—it was an experience, one that reminded everyone that learning, laughter, and a little friendly competition can go hand in hand.

The competition was as thrilling as a final lap on Rainbow Road! Results:

• Savio and Lisieux sped their way to victory, each claiming a race win with impressive teamwork.
• Kolbe powered ahead to earn the most House points.
• Creativity was on full display as well, with Sebastian and Lisieux taking home top honors for Best Karts.
• In the final standings, Lisieux raced to the top with 27 points, followed by Savio and Kolbe tied at 17, and Sebastian finishing strong with 15 points.