It’s spirit week at Pennridge, and the students are bringing the energy. From crazy sock day to quarter-zip day to ugly sweater day, it has the students showing off their support and spirit for the school in the best ways possible.
Spirit week is more than just another thing to check off your to-do list; it is something that can build a stronger community within the school. Landon Godwin, student council treasurer, says, “Our goals for spirit week are to help build Pennridge into a large community and get everyone who can to participate.” For example, when you come to school in your family photo outfit, it’s more than just wearing clothes; it’s about engaging with others. Many classes coordinated to wear the same color schemes like one big “family.” In a time when students are stressed and worried about grades, sports, family, music, etc., it can also be a release or escape from the constant stress of deadlines. It is something that has no stress, and helps teachers and students connect on a more calm level.
“I feel like spirit week is a fun thing that kind of adds to the school week, and it’s something else to do, and it’s a way for people to connect.” Says Ian Sujansky, a student at Pennridge. What’s great about something like Spirit Week is that you can have a lot of fun with minimal effort while bonding and creating a stronger community. Community is also an important aspect, even in schools. “They help to promote school, and it makes people feel like they’re a part of a larger school community.” Says Godwin, stating that it gives the student something to rally behind and support the school. And Sujansky even thinks about taking it a step further, “I would like to see bigger school events during spirit week, it could bring everyone together more and make it more exciting.”
As for how long this has been going on, “We’ve been doing it for a while, although I am not entirely sure how it started.” Godwin says. And they take feedback wherever they can get it, “We collect feedback from things like seeing how many people participate, parent response, and students interacting with each other.” Part of the art of improving a big event like this is taking the critique and making the best for everyone. But it seems they are doing something right. “A lot of people participate. I see people in my classes do it a lot,” says Sujansky, praising the effectiveness that spirit week has, but also giving some constructive criticism, “I would like to see updates on canvas.”
The next time a spirit week rolls around, join in and have some fun. This week is Monday through Friday: Sports Jersey, Crazy Socks, Winter Colors, Family Photo, and Quarter-Zip day. And next week is Monday through Tuesday: Ugly Sweater, and Pajama day. It’s more than just wearing cool clothes, though; it’s about interacting with each other and realizing we don’t have to go through school life, and life in general, alone. So throw it on and get going!
