School spirit is the sense of community and identity shared by those who attend a given school.
It’s present in multiple schools to an extent, and JWHS is no exception.
“School spirit is crucial to me as it fosters a sense of community, pride, and belonging among students, staff, and families,” said Pep Club sponsor Shellsea Martin. “It creates a positive atmosphere that encourages participation and support for school events and activities.”
Martin became the sponsor of Pep Club after a student asked her about it.
Currently, Pep Club has over sixty members in the student body.
“We thought it would be a great way of allowing full inclusion to the entire student body while showing love for the school,” she said.
Martin said school spirit is dictated by traditions, positive experiences, camaraderie, and a shared love for our school.
It also affects athletic performance. The feeling of support a team gets from a crowd can encourage them to perform their best.
“School spirit has a powerful impact on boosting morale, promoting unity, and creating memorable experiences for all members of the school community,” she said.
Examples of school spirit at JWHS include pep rallies, spirit weeks, fundraisers, sport attendance, and cheering on the team.
With such options, students have a variety of ways to participate in spirited activities.
“I go to every game I can and dress up for spirit days,” said freshman cheerleader Madison Sage. “Other ways I show school spirit are by making posters and going to other events that are not sports.”
Sage went out for a sport due to her enjoyment in watching them, but she does cheer specifically to build positive moments.
She experiences school spirit most with an energetic crowd, as they make it easier for her to maintain her energy.
“I see (school spirit) most at games. The games are where everybody comes to watch and support,” she said.
Sage insists on the importance of school spirit, as it makes athletes more willing to work for their school.
Story by Bryce Midgley