Middle School students got their spirit on this week with the annual Winter Classic pep rally, a fun-filled afternoon that unites the student body, generates a ton of laughter, and supports our winter season athletes. “It’s a way to kick off Semester 2 with a gathering of our community to celebrate with games, music, and sports,” explains Callie Bambenek, Middle School Science Teacher. The day started with students, faculty, and staff decked out in their red and green, and athletes and musicians were encouraged to wear their uniforms. Anticipation built every hour of the school day.
After gathering in the South Gym in the afternoon, festivities began with members of the Maroon Boom, the Middle School pep club, introducing the event’s emcee, Middle School History Teacher Blake Whitney. He and the Maroon Boom co-heads welcomed everyone to the third annual Winter Classic. Then, Middle School Arts Teachers Jason Roberts and Eric Taylor and the MS Band, Orchestra, and Choir (sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) performed the Fight Song.
With spirits soaring, it was time for the first competition: the Tarp Pull. Students competed against faculty to pull their peers across the gym floor. They got creative, with team members coordinating jumps to try to make faster progress.
Whitney and Middle School Physical Education Teacher Nick Menneke introduced all of our talented winter sports teams, including our cheerleaders, of course. The audience showed a ton of support for these dedicated athletes, getting them fired up for their various competitions that evening.
Basketballs then came out for several rounds of Knock-Out. Intense concentration by our competitors was matched by enthusiastic cheering from the students in the stands.
Did you know we have our own version of the Olympic sport of Bobsledding? It’s a bit safer, perhaps, but the participants compete with zeal. Mats piled on flat scooters and propelled by peers sent students and teachers zooming around the gym, to the delight of the audience.
Finally, the evening’s schedule of sporting events was announced and students were encouraged to show up and cheer on their peers, if they weren’t competing. The theme for the evening was White Out.
It’s hard to tell who had more fun at the Winter Classic: students or teachers! Thanks to the many people who worked hard to make this event a success, including the Maroon Boom Pep Club (who, in addition to helping plan and run the event, also used posters to help grade levels get seated for the rally), our emcee Mr. Whitney, the Middle School Concert Band, Orchestra, and Concert Choir, all the students and teachers who gamely competed, and Callie Bambenek and Middle School English Teacher Dr. Nick Miller, who are the driving forces behind the Winter Classic.
“We are beyond excited to be able to hold this community event again this year,” said Bambenek in the days leading up. “We could not pull off this event and after-school contests without everyone’s support.”
Go Rams!