Pep rallies, in general, are such a vital part of high school culture. Not only do they get the entire student body together to take a break from academics, but they also spark encouragement, excitement and a winning attitude for the school’s sports teams. This year at Wakefield High School, the pep rally will be on Sept. 26. The Student Council and Wakefield Wackos are the masterminds behind these events, figuring out how they can keep the crowd engaged and filled with school spirit.
Sophomore Class President, Ellen Mathis, is one of the main Student Council members in charge of planning the upcoming pep rally. On top of working with the Wackos, the Student Council also works to involve the student body by including activities in the pep rally, like games and chants. Viewing the different ways Wakefield’s accomplishments can be celebrated is one of Mathis’s favorite parts of setting up the pep rally.
“We usually like to play music and involve both the cheer and dance team, so that they can be on the floor, getting the student body’s attention,” Mathis said. “We like to keep it exciting, keeping things flowing.”
Senior Weston Shrimanker, one of the Head Wakefield Wackos, helps plan pep rallies and other pre-game events. One of the struggles with planning pep rallies is making sure there is something there that all students can enjoy.
“You’ve got to account for every single person because [they all] have different interests, different friends [and] different hobbies,” Shrimanker said. “There are no two same exact kids, so you have to make sure that everyone feels included.”
Part of Shrimanker’s job, along with securing sponsors for tailgates, includes keeping up with what’s popular so everyone stays enthusiastic.
“A lot of times we’ll talk to our friends about what they want to see,” Shrimanker said. “We’ll keep up with what’s trending to make sure that every student, regardless of their class, is engaged.”
Another one of the Head Wackos, senior Payton Smith, enjoys the tailgates before football games. Smith is working to share the fun of them with the whole student body, including the underclassmen who don’t often know they’re happening.
“For tailgates and football games, we feel like only upperclassmen come, but we want to get everyone included,” Smith said. “We want the whole school to come and feel like they can participate.”
Another roadblock Student Council and the Wackos face when planning pep rallies is making sure that people attend and show excitement. Jeren Hernandez, a Student Council advisor, oversees engagement while simultaneously keeping track of all the moving pieces that come with putting together these events, ensuring everyone knows exactly what is expected of them. Hernandez has planned for Wakefield’s clubs and organizations to participate to help provide a fun atmosphere.
“[It’s difficult] convincing students that it is not lame to go to a pep rally [and] it is okay to go have fun while you’re at school,” Hernandez said. “In fact, if you had a little bit more fun while you were at school, it would be more enjoyable.”
There is so much thought and effort that goes into planning pep rallies. It takes commitment from the Student Council, constant energy from the Wackos and the helping hands of their advisors to make sure the event is worth the time spent setting it up. After all, these assemblies are for the students and the students are the life of Wakefield High School.
“We always want to hear the thoughts, opinions and ideas of the students,” Hernandez said. “It’s your guys’ event, we’re just there to make sure it’s a good one.”
