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 with exciting events built from the feedback of the teachers and students. Ms. Bambenek shares how the event is orchestrated around the desires of the students with tremendous faculty support. “We are able to keep the Winter Classic fresh each year thanks to the energy of our students who design this event,” she shares. “They bring ideas and perspective, feedback from the previous year, and their hopes for this year. We can give our students large amounts of responsiblity and they go with it! Our student body can do great things within our school walls, such as build community and connect with others. We collaborate and make it happen. We also have the best faculty who is willing to participate and compete in these events with our students.”
After gathering in the South Gym in the afternoon, festivities began with the 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, Kaiden Simms ’30, Penn Galt ’30, Jordan Soshnik ’30, Lucy Meyer ’30, and Elliot Reed ’30, 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. “We are fortunate to have an outstanding group of students who consistently rise to the challenge each year by bringing fresh, creative ideas to the assembly activities,” says Middle School Physical Education Teacher Nick Menneke. “Mrs. Bambenek and I collaborate closely with them to develop and organize each event.”
Mr. Whitney and Mr. Menneke introduced all of our talented winter sports teams, including our cheerleaders, of course. The audience showed endless support for these dedicated athletes, getting them fired up for their various competitions that evening.
Basketballs then came out for several rounds of Winter Classic 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, 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. “We also designate the day’s athletic contests as a Teacher Appreciation Game,” Mr. Menneke says. “Students are encouraged to write a letter to a teacher of their choice, inviting them to attend and support them at their game, helping strengthen our sense of community.”
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, 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. All of us are grateful for our eighth-grade student leaders, extremely grateful for our faculty that ‘willingly’ accept the students’ invitations to participate, and our incredible arts students who are always willing to kick-off our rally!” Mr. Menneke agrees, “From the students who help lead and organize the event, to the faculty who step outside their comfort zones to participate, to the unwavering support from our Division Head and Head of School, this community consistently shows up for one another.”
Go Rams!