For the past couple of years, notably post-pandemic, it has been hard to ignore a shift on campus. Sam Momary Stadium wasn’t filling up the way it used to, pep rallies had fewer students and even dress-up days struggled to bring out participants. With more students taking virtual classes or dual enrollment courses and not staying on campus the full seven periods, it sometimes felt as if students come and go as they please, which was not far from the truth.
Watching the student section collapse mid-game and seeing the parking lot dwindle at football games became a common occurrence. Administrators grew used to seeing unenthusiastic attempts of engaging students fall flat. When will the high school atmosphere come back?
Over the last few weeks things have changed.
Homecoming season usually brings around more participation in school events; however, this year’s shift was noticeably stronger than most. Leadership and the Inter Club Council both made a clear effort to get students engaged in school events again, and it worked. Events such as Club Carnival, the Tuesday “Tonight Show” and more around campus pushed spirit across the school.
Dress-up days like Pajama Day and Tourist Day brought students out in their designated garbs and showed off the school’s desire to fulfill the high school experience. The Neon Pep Rally, highly regarded as one of the biggest can’t-miss moments of the year, saw a higher turnout than last year, and it was felt through the energized atmosphere.
Not to forget the actual homecoming dance. The temperature miraculously matched the New York theme, allowing students to dance outside carefree of heat or other typical Florida factors. This provided a highly attended, memorable experience that seemingly brought the entire school together for one night.
Unfortunately, in many years before, the efforts made by school leadership haven’t been enough to fully engage the student body. What happened this year to push us over the edge?
Enter: athletic success. In varsity football, one of the biggest upsets in school history, a 24-7 demolishing of an undefeated Lake Brantley, made sure to keep eyelids open.
The biggest indicator that there was more school interest?
The away games had full student sections. Notably the Oviedo and Lake Howell games had sweltering student bodies storming into foreign lands and turning them into their own.
Other teams aren’t letting up either. Boys and girls cross country have continued to dominate every tournament they have been placed in. The bowling team had an undefeated season, blasting all competition out of the water.
Girls volleyball demolished the class 6A state champions Oviedo Lions 3-1 en route to a 20-6 finish, only falling short to the eventual state champion Winter Park Wildcats after ending Lake Brantley’s season the game before.
This explosion in athletics brings about more school pride and school spirit. Students are more proud that they go to our school, leading to more school spirit and participation in outside events. Not to mention, the school becomes a much more enticing option for student-athletes looking for somewhere to transfer, a development which has already benefited a few of the teams.
Ultimately, this school year has seen an explosion in schoolwide participation in events and spirit, bolstered by unparalleled athletic success. However, we can’t let up now while we’re ahead.
In order to keep this momentum going into the new year, students must be able to find it within themselves to participate, and put effort into being a part of the school. We must all understand that the spirit of the school is fragile, and if the student body were to stop caring about it, it would break. However, using these past few weeks, it’s safe to say that the future is in our hands.
