If you were anywhere near the KHS new gym on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 5, you would have heard the cheers, music, and laughter that kicked off the Winter Pep Rally.
From the powerful opening performance of the national anthem by Frankie Cignini to the crowd joining in to sing “Happy Birthday” to English teacher John Penola, the afternoon was filled with energy and school spirit. As the pep rally continued, each team spoke about their seasons and invited others to participate in activities similar to their own sport, creating an environment full of excitement and Colt pride.
Showcasing Winter Sports.
The winter sports section began with Christian Carmichael representing the bowling team, as they had a scheduled game and did not attend. He energized the crowd and set the stage for the other sports teams to follow. Next, the basketball team was called up, and team captains spoke about their past and upcoming seasons. They introduced their teammates and set a positive example for the other teams.
The first student activity was a knockout basketball game, with two boys from each grade competing against each other for a chance to win a prize: a cookie voucher from David’s Cookies, which are sold every day in the KHS cafeteria.
Following the knockout game, each sports team took the center of the gym to introduce themselves and share plans for their season. After each introduction, a game was held with students who didn’t participate in that particular sport. However, during the fencing activity, the student council and staff began noticing a lack of participation. Not many people were willing to participate in the games, even with the prize.
Principal Jennifer Oluwole stepped in and announced that the games would conclude early as a result. The rest of the teams continued introducing themselves, and the pep rally came to an end with the wrestling team.
Students were let out, and they ran out the door, buzzing with excitement and looking forward to the weekend that lay ahead.
Behind the Scenes: Planning the Winter Pep Rally.
Although the energy of the pep rally was easy to see from the stands, much of the work that made the event possible happened long before students gathered in the gym. Planning the event required organization, teamwork, and careful thought about how to best highlight each winter sport.
According to Student Council President Samantha Ferretti, preparing for the pep rally meant balancing creativity with communication. “My main role was making sure that all captains and seniors knew that they were going to have to talk about their sport, and planning out the different events that were going to take place,” she explained. Feretti continued to speak about the challenges that she ran into when picking the games. “The most challenging part was probably picking some of the events, for example, fencing and wrestling. It’s kind of hard to pick something to do that doesn’t involve those specific activities.”
Student council advisor Elena DeStories highlighted the collaborative efforts behind the scenes. “Mr. [Nino] Capra, our school’s gym teacher, was phenomenal and so helpful in helping us get the materials ready for the different events,” DeStories said. “On top of that, Samantha Ferretti was so helpful in organizing this event and coordinating with team captains. I would also say Mrs. [Jennifer] Oluwole, our new principal, was extremely helpful. She really advocated for a winter pep rally.” These combined efforts ensured the event ran smoothly and all teams had the opportunity to be recognized.
Building School Spirit Through New Traditions.
Oluwole emphasized that the pep rally was part of a larger effort to build a stronger and connected school community. She explained that holding consistent pep rallies is still new to KHS. “We’re just setting a baseline this year,” Oluwole stated. “The purpose of a pep rally is all about school spirit and supporting those who are participating.”
DeStories echoed this idea, explaining that events like this help strengthen the school’s unity. “These kinds of events bring a sense of togetherness and community to our small town high school,” she said. “They give students a chance to interact with others they might not usually see.”
The Winter Pep Rally energized the KHS community, highlighted winter highlights, and showcased the efforts of staff and students. With many plans for future events, school spirit is expected to keep growing at KHS!
