Indy’s First Winter Spirit Week and Pep Rally Surprises Students and Staff

As Independence students and staff repped their school spirit in the second week of December, the school was left amazed after its winter sports pep rally on Dec. 12. Contrary to typical high school tradition, the freshmen class unexpectedly won their first Spirit Stick during the winter pep rally last week. 

As the most spirited winners were announced, freshmen ran off the bleachers to celebrate their first win. Freshmen huddled around one another in their red class color, boasting their unforeseen victory. Earlier in the pep rally, freshman had also won a game of tug-of-war against sophomores and juniors for the first time, giving them another accomplishment worth celebrating.

The pep rally was held at the beginning of the winter sports season, instilling positive mindsets among winter sports participants. The basketball, gymnastics, indoor track, swimming and wrestling teams emerged amidst cheers, celebrating Independence’s winter athletes. 

During the third spirit week of the year, Monday was winter pajama day. Students and teachers wore flannel pjs, onesies and other comfortable attire. 

On Tuesday, summer and winter clothing was sported during swinter day. Students wore hawaiian shirts with winter boots, mixing winter and summer together in their outfits.  

Wednesday was flannel day. More flannel pjs were worn as well as flannel button-up shirts. 

Thursday, the day of the pep rally, was cozy class colors day, with the freshmen wearing red, sophomores wearing blue and juniors wearing white. 

Friday was holiday sweater day, although it was moved to the Thursday after that due to a snow day. Many teachers and students wore their ugliest holiday sweaters. 

Sophomore Sam Cooper, Student Council Association (SCA) member, described the planning behind spirit days. “We basically have something that resembles a Socratic seminar,” he said. “There’s a lot of listening involved. We all agree on one idea for a particular day. My classmates help me with spirit inspiration. A lot of the time, they’re very over the top, in a great way. When they’re spirited, it helps me be inspired to one-up them,” noted Cooper. 

“My favorite part about pep rallies is when the Spirit Stick winner is announced and people run off the bleachers,” sophomore Liza Paluy said. “My friends and teachers are very supportive here. Independence is by far more spirited than my last high school.”