On Dec. 13, the Student Council Association (SCA) hosted its annual winter pep rally featuring student and teacher relay races, a basketball shootout race, and a “Pie the Teacher” event. The pep rally took place at the end of the winter spirit week, filled with holiday-themed spirit days, which allowed students to earn their class spirit points.  

The week kicked off on a cozy note with Pajama Day on Monday; Tuesday brought students in their best ski or surf gear; students showcased their favorite athletes and teams on Wednesday with Jersey Day; the halls on Thursday, Flannel Day, were dominated by checkered patterns; and the week wrapped up in a festive style with HoliDAY on Friday, with students celebrating with their favorite holiday outfits. 

Students bought $1 hot chocolate all week, donating to a teacher’s box for a chance for them to be pied at the pep rally. The teachers who students could vote on were science teacher Michael Clear, English teacher Johanna Ayala-Walsh, social studies teacher Steven Mobley, and math teacher Dermott McGee. Clear received the most votes, making him the teacher who would get pied at the pep rally. 

SCA executive president senior Annabelle Monte, vice president junior Shaun Sahayadarlin, and spirit director junior Nila Divakar welcomed the student body at the start of the pep rally, announcing the spirit points each class had earned so far: the sophomores were in fourth place with 72 points, the freshmen in third with 82, the juniors were in second with 131 points, and the seniors won the week with 167 spirit points. “It feels nostalgic; it’s crazy that it’s one of our last pep rallies,” senior Bella Hasbun said. “It feels almost like I’m a freshman again, watching the pep rallies from the opposite side of the gym.”

After the student body was welcomed, the winter sports athletes were then introduced: girls and boys basketball, hockey, winter cheer, wrestling, swimming, gymnastics, and indoor track. Senior Kalen Walker, a girls varsity basketball team player, and junior Lucas Wilsey, a boys varsity basketball team player, faced off in a shootout, where each individual attempted to make the most baskets. With both tied at four, a rock-paper-scissors match decided the winner. Walker won, making her the student who would get to pie Clear in the face. 

Afterwards, select staff members participated in a relay race involving popping balloons, spinning with a baseball bat, and running back and forth to their chairs in poofy winter-themed costumes. Math teacher Nicole Turner won, allowing her to be the one who got to choose which class would win the spirit stick with the loudest cheers. 

Following the staff game, student SCA representatives also got to participate in a similar relay, this one having them run in pairs on scooters to gather materials to accomplish the end goal of dressing up as a snowman, which the freshman team ended up winning. “It’s so much fun because the freshmen don’t really get points for anything, so it feels good to win and get points for our grade,” freshman Emmy Hagler, one of the students who played in the relay race, said. 

The seniors also were glad they played in the game, as it was going to be one of their last chances to do so in high school. “I wish I would’ve been spirited in the pep rallies, but I’m glad I was in the pep rally game this year because it made it extra special that it’s my last year at Rock Ridge,” senior Kate Gutshall, one of the senior participants, said.

The main event of the pep rally was undoubtedly “Pie the Teacher,” where Clear was pied by Walker. After the roar of cheers for Clear died down, it was time for all the classes to rev up again in the battle to win the spirit stick. After each class screamed as loudly as they could, Turner awarded the spirit stick to the sophomore class, certifying them as the most spirited class during the winter pep rally. 

Gallery • 8 Photos

Ananya Karthik

SCA spirit director junior Nila Divakar explains the student chant as each class competes to see who is the loudest.