School spirit was on full display at the spring pep rally, where students came together to celebrate, perform and cheer on their peers. The event took place on April 24 at Memorial field, where six combined sports teams performed their dances for the staff and student body.

At the start of lunch, students quickly filled the bleachers, ready to celebrate the performances.  Students cheered loudly after each performance, creating an energetic atmosphere. As students executed certain moves and tricks, the applause and cheers grew. While there were six groups who performed and competed their dances in front of the judges, in the end, the boys’ varsity tennis team and the girls’ flag football team came out on top.

Eliana Lieber (’29) described her experience as a spectator: “Watching the pep rally as a person who had no idea what was coming was so exciting because I got to see my friends and people I didn’t know perform these really cool dances that I knew were important to them,” she said. “I loved everyone’s energy. It was all so fun!”

While students saw the dances polished and perfected, the preparation behind each performance required a lot of time and practice. Erin Secker-Walker (’29), a member of the varsity girls’ golf team, explained how a typical practice went for her: “A typical practice looked productive, but chaotic, with everyone focusing on learning the dance,” she said. Practicing was key, as it allowed the team to collaborate and connect their ideas. 

When questioned about whether she feels closer to her team now than before the pep rally, she said, “I do feel closer to the team because I feel like for a lot of us [freshmen] it was our first pep rally, and people were nervous for it, so we all bonded over it and spent more time together.” Her perspective shows that the pep rally not only showcased school spirit, but also strengthened connections within the teams.

Beyond the performances, the pep rally brought the school community closer together. Students from different teams, grades and groups gathered in one space to share the school spirit and pride. The crowd displayed this sense of unity as students not only cheered for their own friends, but for everyone who participated. Overall, the pep rally strengthened the connections across the school and instituted a sense of belonging for all students.