Remember Sports Day in elementary school? Thrilled by the cheerful atmosphere, children of all grades dressed in their team colour, engaged in the many invigorating games and activities. It was always one of my favourite days of the year. I particularly remember the water balloon fights and tug of war, and also that I somehow ALWAYS ended up on Team Green.
Pep rallies share the same sense of excitement and energy. You can think of them as the high school version of Sports Day. They are held before a school sports game and are meant to hype everyone up and support the team. To get a better sense of one, here is a clip of a pep rally opening from the movie Easy A:
Some fun activities in a pep rally are:
Mascot dance-off
Crowd waves and cheers
Tug of war
Student vs Teacher games
Spirit wear
Pieing teachers
Talent show performances
Cheerleading
Doesn’t it sound fun?
Here’s why Sentinel should have them:
It builds school spirit and fosters a sense of community
A pep rally is a giant group hug. School-wide games and group activities encourage students to be introduced to people beyond their grade and therefore unify the student body. The energetic atmosphere also creates a sense of harmony and allows students to feel more connected to the school community. They are a reminder that no matter how hard you bombed your math test, we’re all in it together!
They motivate and encourage the sports team
The roaring and hollering from the crowd makes a huge difference. Many of you who play sports would agree that cheering brings a mass of energy that’s contagious. Pep rallies can encourage the sports team to perform their best. Students are also inspired from the exhilaration of the event to keep giving it their best, whether in the classroom, on the field, or outside of school.
They can relieve student stress
I would definitely benefit from a day off of the never-ending cycle of classes, homework, tests, staring at the clock, tests, homework, and more homework (teachers, I’m kidding!). Where’s the excitement in school when everyday consists of the same mundane tasks repeated over and over again? Pep rallies shake things up!
Overall experience and memories
Pep rallies are where many of the most precious high school memories form—whether it's your favorite teacher getting pied in the face, your best friend as the mascot doing a stupid dance, or YOU singing in the talent show. Even now, some of my favorite memories from elementary school were Sports Days. It will be the same thing 10 years from now: you might not remember everything (or even anything) you learned in history class (I’m sorry teachers!), but you will likely remember a pep rally!
Some view pep rallies as a mere distraction from our academics. But let’s be real here; school is not only about grades, but also fostering community and a sense of belonging. Sentinel already has a great community. However, it can be enriched even more, and pep rallies can help us achieve this.
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