Are you ready to rally?
Student leaders, parents and WHS staff have decided to make Wednesday a day to remember.
While the Spirit Week attire, bonfire behind EIS and Thanksgiving Day football game against Plainfield High will continue as per tradition, this year’s pep rally is getting a major makeover. During the half-day, staff and students are required to walk to Kehler Stadium together.
“There will be a parade of the clubs, the [marching] band will play, the cheerleaders will perform, and the relay race will take place,” said junior Brianna Hatch, vice president of the Student Government Association.
Last year’s pep rally saw students gather outside the school during Period 9. But this year, the SGA hopes to amp it up. “We want the students to get more involved in the pep rally because that’s where we thought we slacked last year,” said senior Robert Brown, SGA president.
One new component is Battle of the Classes. “Students who volunteered to be on the class team will do challenges against each other, things like relay races and tug of war,” Brown said.
There will also be a parade to highlight the diverse clubs at WHS. “The clubs who signed up for Club Day come down for the parade and walk around the track,” said Brown.
Students have mixed opinions on this new event. “I think it’s kind of dumb that we have to walk all the way to Kehler,” said sophomore Mia Kochis.
On the other hand, sophomore Carly Burke believes that there are some good aspects to this change. “I’m friends with most of the cheerleaders so it is going to be fun to watch them,” she said.
Some students see positives and negatives to the event. “I think it’s a waste of time and we can do better things with our time,” senior Julia Whitman said. “However, we get to see all of our friends at the end of the day which is nice.”
Art Teacher Ms. Leah Jarvis is looking forward to the pep rally and the tone it sets for the school. “I think it’s a way to exhibit school spirit,” she said. “I think it’s nice that all grade levels are together as one. I also think it’s a nice way to round out the day following right into Thanksgiving weekend.”
WHS Principal Dr. Derrick Nelson is also optimistic about the changes that have been made to the pep rally. “I’m hoping to create something that is going to be systemic and is going to last for generations,” said Nelson.
“When your kids come to Westfield High School and I’m old and gray and ready to retire, it is going to be something that we can say we started back in 2017 and look at it, it’s still rockin’.”
Last year’s pep rally saw students gather outside the school during Period 9. But this year, the SGA hopes to amp it up. “We want the students to get more involved in the pep rally because that’s where we thought we slacked last year,” said senior Robert Brown, SGA president.
One new component is Battle of the Classes. “Students who volunteered to be on the class team will do challenges against each other, things like relay races and tug of war,” Brown said.
There will also be a parade to highlight the diverse clubs at WHS. “The clubs who signed up for Club Day come down for the parade and walk around the track,” said Brown.
Students have mixed opinions on this new event. “I think it’s kind of dumb that we have to walk all the way to Kehler,” said sophomore Mia Kochis.
On the other hand, sophomore Carly Burke believes that there are some good aspects to this change. “I’m friends with most of the cheerleaders so it is going to be fun to watch them,” she said.
Some students see positives and negatives to the event. “I think it’s a waste of time and we can do better things with our time,” senior Julia Whitman said. “However, we get to see all of our friends at the end of the day which is nice.”
Art Teacher Ms. Leah Jarvis is looking forward to the pep rally and the tone it sets for the school. “I think it’s a way to exhibit school spirit,” she said. “I think it’s nice that all grade levels are together as one. I also think it’s a nice way to round out the day following right into Thanksgiving weekend.”
WHS Principal Dr. Derrick Nelson is also optimistic about the changes that have been made to the pep rally. “I’m hoping to create something that is going to be systemic and is going to last for generations,” said Nelson.
“When your kids come to Westfield High School and I’m old and gray and ready to retire, it is going to be something that we can say we started back in 2017 and look at it, it’s still rockin’.”
