A rally isn’t really a rally without the loud cheers, crowds of students wearing Piedmont purple or class colors, or the wacky spirit-themed costumes: all things dependent on school spirit.
“I think when people are all engaged in rallies and in spirit week it makes it a lot of fun for everyone,” Sophomore Class President Colin Amen said.
Amen, along with the rest of ASB, is working to put on more spirit events for the student body.
“I am trying to plan more events for the sophomore class specifically and make events more fun,” Amen said. “I am also trying to listen to all the feedback being given to improve the events.”
Students have noticed that the underclassmen don’t participate in spirit weeks as much compared to the upperclassmen.
“I participate in almost every spirit day, but I would say the grade doesn’t really participate as much,” freshman Cassidy Carter said.
Carter said he thinks that as his grade gets older, they will start to participate in spirit days and events more.
“If you look at the juniors and seniors, almost all of them dress up for spirit days, so I think we will be like them eventually,” Carter said.
Carter said that everyone’s spirit was amazing at the homecoming rally, and is excited for the next one.
“I think the rally was super fun, I thought all the chants and games were super cool and it showed how amazing everyone’s spirit was,” Carter said. “I can’t wait for the next one and next I hope to play in some of the games.”
Carter said he believes that spirit is one of the most important things for a school to have.
“I think spirit means being involved in things that are related to your school and being proud of being a part of your school,” Carter said.
Amen said that he feels that his grade does not participate as much in spirit days this year. He said an example of this was a Halloween movie night ASB recently hosted on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.. Amen estimated that out of the whole school only 50 people showed up.
“I think our sophomore class needs to work a bit more on spirit,” Amen said.
Amen said he thinks that having spirit is crucial to the students having fun.
“I think spirit is all about a student’s attitude. If a student is willing to go to events with a good attitude, they are going to have a lot more fun,” Amen said. “I think it will all come with time and when we grow older events and rallies will be a lot more fun.”
Junior Declan Murphy said as an upperclassmen, he participates way more in spirit weeks or any type of school spirit compared to when he was freshman or sophomore.
“As a freshman I definitely thought the spirit days were a little bit weird, but now I don’t think like that,” Murphy said. “I think it’s a super fun way for the community to come together, and I try to participate as much as possible now.”
Spirit at Piedmont is not only from the student body. The staff have seen so many spirit weeks and sports games throughout the years, and observed how it has evolved through the years.
“I think having a lot of school spirit makes it way more fun for people to come to school and makes people happier to come to school,” said English teacher Elise Marks. “Spirit has gone up and down, there have been times when the whole school goes to the football games and there are times when people feel very disconnected.”
Marks said that ever since COVID, spirit decreased, but recently it has been starting to build it way up again.
“I think COVID definitely made people less spirited, and it’s taking time to build it back up again,” Marks said.
Marks said since his arrival, PHS Principal David Yoshihara has been making a great effort to revitalize spirit in the school.
“With Principal Yoshihara here I think building up spirit has been a priority for him, and I think that’s great seeing lots of spirit come back again.”
Spirit can have a huge impact on the energy of rallies and sports games.
Varsity lacrosse player senior Luisa Cole thinks when there are big games it makes it much more fun for everyone.
“As a team we have a lot of energy, but it would definitely make it more fun if we had a student section for some of the games like against O’Dowd,” Cole said.
