The Bellaire skit level three students placed third in the annual Houstonfest German competition on Feb. 5, 2022. In spite of being switched to a virtual competition at the last minute due to HISD’s COVID-19 policy, the German department placed third overall.

24 students competed and placed in the top five ranks and continued on to compete at the state level on Feb. 26.

Due to the COVID-19 policy implemented by HISD, which restricted field trips that were not sport or UIL-related, the competition was conducted online. For events such as skits and poetry readings, students had to record a video of the event beforehand and submit by the morning of the competition.

The level three skit event, which consisted of four students, placed first in its category. Junior Nina Wallach, who competed and placed in the skit and prose reading events, had mixed feelings about the virtual transition of the competition.

“It was easier because for the prose and for the skit, we could re-record and submit the best recording rather than just having one attempt in front of live judges.”

Wallach added that the virtual setting wasn’t as energy-filled as the previous in-person competitions.

“It’s more fun in-person because you get to celebrate the culture through music and food with all the other German students in the Houston area,” Wallach said. “They would also have performers and traditional German dishes.”

The virtual environment also frustrated the skit participants. Juniors Angel Aguilera and Sidney Chang said that setting up times to record was a difficult task.

“Because we all had other activities to do outside the competition, it was hard to schedule times to record it,” said Aguilera. “Oftentimes we had to practice the skit with one person missing.”

Junior Sidney Chang said they also faced many problems when recording.

“We had a lot of technical difficulties with the memory card,” Chang said. “There was one time when we got a really good recording, but then the memory card blanked and the file was corrupted.”

The skit group admitted that out of the events they competed in, the play was the most enjoyable.

“I had a lot of fun learning and practicing the skit,” Wallach said. “I got to play the confused and angry waiter. And it was really funny when we just forgot lines, and we had to kind of improvise.”

The skit group persevered and placed first. Wallach said that the group was pleasantly surprised and happy with the results.

“Overall, I’m really proud and happy,” Wallach said. “We don’t have our state results yet. But for Houston fest, our skit made first place and I made fifth place in my prose reading, which was pretty surprising.”