Renaissance Academic Pep Rally - 2016

Renaissance Academic Pep Rally - 2016

What makes it different than any other pep rally? I’ve been asking myself that for the last 17 years. It could be the anticipation or the excitement that is generated when all of our students and staffulty members are in the same room celebrating commitment, hard work, character, leadership and academic success. Maybe it’s just the comedy of students and staffulty on stage performing skits or celebrating our achievements.

If you’ve never been to one, you would not understand. People used to tell me about them but I never really understood until I went to one. Educators and students getting excited about school seems out of place to most people. However, celebration is an essential component of any organization. We, as Americans, celebrate just about anything. Why not celebrate the people you are with more than anyone else?

One thing is for sure: Renaissance Pep Rally Day is one of the best days of the school year. The Rally is similar to a sports pep rally although we have amped it up over the years. We now have it the day before Memorial Day Weekend, after our state mandated testing. The fact is that the energy is incomparable. Ask anyone that has ever been here.

Every person has on a pep rally shirt. Each grade is designated with a different color. We respect, recognize, reinforce, reward, and get results. Music is a key component. The skits move effortlessly. Each year we have a theme that starts at the beginning of the year. This year it was easy: The Force Awakens! Characters graced the stage with names like Darth Hater, Always Fun Kenobi, Han YOLO, and Yoga to name a few.

We started with an eighth grader performing a Star Wars mashup. He played all the instruments on the track and accompanied with his guitar. Then in classic rock fashion he continued with the National Anthem. Before we started our “live” performances, we watched a staffulty video to introduce the setting.

We recognized and rewarded students and staffulty throughout the rally. At the end, Luke Hightalker found his voice when he finished his Jedi training and the power of Renaissance through leadership.

The script and performances were hilarious. I laughed. I cried. I learned something: people that care are able to inspire the next generation of great accomplishments.

Try it. Rock on!