This article is pulled from MOR’s archives. It is written by Kaitlin Gregg and originally published on February 13th, 1998.
2:00 today is the moment of reckoning. The Spirit Week rivalry between the senior and junior classes that ended in deadlock last fall will be decided.
Whichever class captures the pep rally will be deemed the winner of not only this Spirit Week, but of the whole year. As the points are tabulated this afternoon, students wilI reflect on the second spirit week of the school year, the first school week entirely run by students. “Spirit Week is the best thing our school offers” enthused Casey Hopkins, a senior.
“Everyone needs their time in the sun, and the juniors are trying to cause an eclipse,” spouted Jennie Mengers O’Brien, senior class secretary, “It is the seniors’ time to shine.”
Not everyone feels that the week is about proving dominance as a class. “There has been a lot of tension between the classes, but I wish everyone could realize that the week is also about school spirit.”
All of the classes had very high levels of participation in the week. Sarah Strong, a freshman, explained “It is fun to get into school spirit.” The early contests left the Seniors spirit,” mused Lauren Penna, a junior. This week included several new events, including Crazy Hair Day, Oyster River Trivia Challenge and an Obstacle Course. “I loved Crazy Hair Day” laughed Jessi Celentano, a Sophomore, “It was hilarious to see how. many hair styles cowardly anonymous student mused “Crazy Hair Day was totally unfair to Mr. Lane. He couldn’t participate even if he wanted to.”
As of this year, the faculty has been included on a team of its own, and has had the ability to score points. Erin Fitzpatrick commented that “the committee decided it was important to get the faculty involved, so we decided they should have their own team. The faculty has embraced the chance to earn points. Hopkins pointed out “the teachers have been a contending force for a long time so it is nice that we are finally on paper.”
Lindsay Thompson, chair of committee in charge of the week, feels that “Spirit Week is a chance for the classes and the school as a whole to become closer.” Thompson, along with Fitzpatrick, were the driving forces in organizing the week. Mr. Gasowski served as an advisor, however students were the ones that planned the whole event. Gasowski commented that “Spirit Week is the type of activity that students can run and run well.”
Fitzpatrick noted that “people think that Spirit Week just happens, like magic. But in reality it takes at least two months to plan.” The planning for this Spirit Week started the week before Christmas, and “involved many, many meetings, and a lot of planning after school,” explained Thompson.
The only concern of students surrounding Spirit Week is the validity of the results. Lucy Tobin, a junior, commented that “I’m not sure the point system is fair. I don’t think that the seniors would ever lose.” However, Thompson promises that “the point system has been redone. This week will be accurately judged. There is no way anyone will be able to argue with the results.”
This afternoon’s pep rally promises to be a fitting ending to the exciting week, stimulating the student body with crazy competitions, sports exhibitions, and the newly christened onion-eating contest. As of publication, Spirit Week is still anyone’s game. All the classes have come together to create a crescendo of creative spirit and enthusiasm unparalleled in the history of OR.
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