Encourage your friends to wear school colors with you. The more people that participate, the more spirit you’ll show!
If you have artistic skill, make posters that show your school mascot, motto, etc. You can use these to show spirit on game days, for instance, with fun slogans about your team and/or the opposing team, like “Go Tigers! Soufflé those Cheesy Badgers!” Make shakers out of plastic bottles filled with beans, beads, coins, or other small items, and decorate them with paint, ribbons, stickers, etc. in your school’s colors. Bring them to events and pep rallies to make noise and show your spirit.
Many schools have a special alma mater, or associated song. Learn the words and melody to yours! Some schools also have a special fight song that is sung at sporting events and pep rallies to show spirit for your school and encourage friendly competition. If your school doesn’t have an alma mater or fight song, draw on your creative skills and write one, or compose one together with your friends.
Games Pep rallies Homecoming celebrations Competitions (debate, math team, quiz bowl, etc. ) Performances (drama, music, etc. )
Sports Band[5] X Research source Cheerleading[6] X Research source Dance team[7] X Research source School newspaper Alumni ambassadors
Art Club Diversity Club (sponsors heritage months, supports inclusive environments, etc. ) Chorus Drama Club Technology Club Science Olympiad Foreign language clubs (French, Spanish, German, Japanese, etc. ) Chess Club Photography Club Math Team Crotchet Club Knitting Club Leadership organizations Debate Team Literary journal/magazine Green Club (interests in recycling, sustainability, conservation, etc. ) Pep squad
For instance, if someone doesn’t like coming to games, he or she might be a great participant in a school club. Those who like going to games can also show up for their classmates in drama performances, academic competitions, or other events. Everyone working together to show spirit will make your school great!
Bake sales Candy sales Art auction Book drive Dance marathons 5k runs Car wash Carnival Game night Ask local stores, restaurants, etc. to donate gift certificates or merchandise. You can then sell raffle tickets to win these prizes.
Tacky day (for fun, everyone wears clothes that are intentionally silly, mismatched, etc. ) Wear pajamas to school day Dress up day (everyone wears formal clothing for the day–suits, nice dresses, etc. ) Twin day (friends dress exactly like each other) Wacky Wednesday (wear costumes—the more outlandish, the better) School color day Super hero vs. villain day (some people dress as super heroes, some as villains) Ninja vs. Pirate day (some people dress as ninjas, others as pirates)
Have upbeat music playing as people enter the pep rally, as well as during it. Invite the marching band to perform. Have cheerleaders perform some routines, and also work the crowd to participate in cheers. Invite a dance group to perform while wearing school colors. Have everyone sing your school’s alma mater or fight song. Get everyone moving! Try the “wave” and other hand motions.
Players can carry the mascot into the pep rally on a chair. The mascot can serve as the “king” of the pep rally if it wears a crown and the chair is decorated like a throne. Ask the mascot to take part in a cheer or dance. Have the mascot play a game against someone dressed as the opposing team’s mascot (and win, of course).
Hold a “Downtown” pep rally where everyone dresses up in formal wear. Cheerleaders, for instance, can wear top hats and tails. Have a “blackout” pep rally where the lights are turned out, and cheerleaders, band, etc. use glow-in-the-dark clothing or items. Glow sticks can be distributed to students so that they can participate. Try a “Blast from the Past. ” Decorate the pep rally according to a certain decade (the 60’s, the 80’s, etc. ) or time period (Roman, prehistoric, etc. ). Choose appropriate music, and ask participants to wear clothes that fit the theme.
School officials could wear school colors or jerseys on game days. You could ask your school officials for permission to occasionally use part of school time for a pep rally. Tell them that holding a pep rally during school hours will ensure that people come and improve their school spirit. Ask your principal or headmaster to share a special cheer, song, or encouraging thought with the school at the start or end of each day. Talk to your school officials about starting a school Hall of Fame. This could include pictures, plaques, awards, and other information about students and athletes from your school that have made notable accomplishments. Ask your principal to agree to do a stunt, wear a ridiculous hat, or something else fun if students accomplish a goal like raising a certain amount of money for the community.
Students in a history, writing, or journalism class can work together to write a history of your school. Topics could include things like the founding of the school, notable alumni, academic and athletic accomplishments, and key dates in the history of the school. Students in art class could work on painting signs and posters for pep rallies and other events while practicing their drawing and other artistic skills at the same time. Students in a drama or creative writing class could develop fun and educational skits to share at pep rallies or other events. For instance, students could write a skit about what life was like at your school 25 years ago.
Ask a teacher, parent, or other adult about starting a Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), also known as a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) if your school doesn’t already have one. Ask the PTO to take charge of some activities, such as planting a school community garden. Ask local businesses or organizations about becoming a community service partner (CSP) with your school. A CSP can help raise funds for various causes. For instance, a CSP can help bring in donations for school groups that want to send care packages to soldiers abroad, or to students in developing nations. Ask parents and community members to help you get in touch with school alumni. These former students can raise school spirit; for instance, you could invite accomplished alumni to come and speak at an event or pep rally to encourage students to succeed. Make sure to ask parents and community members to come to games, performances, competitions, and other events. Seeing everyone there will encourage both school and community pride!
