The Cresskill High School Pep rally on Friday, September 5th was a huge improvement from year’s past. But what about this year’s event was so special? Thanks to the hard work and planning of the events that went on during the Pep Rally by our Athletic Director, Mrs. Mullen, this year’s Pep Rally was way better than what we have experienced in previous years. But specifically, what parts of the event made it so interesting, and what could make next year’s rally even more successful?

This year’s Pep Rally definitely had one of the most interesting events held, and we strictly believe that the Cheerleader + Teacher Dance-off was one of the best events by far. The impressive moves from Mr. Mirkovic and senior Leah Khaloyan led to their undisputed victory against all their opponents, and just as importantly, Charlie the Cougar. What made this event special was the fact that every student was able to cheer for their classmates or teachers in what was a competitive yet funny competition. According to Ms. Ofshinsky who was also behind the mascot of Charlie the Cougar, she believed that this year’s Pep Rally improved the school spirit and, “It got everyone much more involved, helping them get excited about what’s going on.” Ms. Ofshinsky was a significant part of this year’s Pep Rally, and she single handedly raised the school spirit with her determination and enthusiasm.

Another fun part of the Pep Rally was most definitely the Musical Chairs competition. Although this competition wasn’t as highly expected or anticipated, it still managed to add a lot of fun and energy towards the end of the day. The game featured a mix of students, teachers, and sports coaches. Watching everyone scramble and hover over each chair while maintaining a safe space between each other as the rounds went down to just a few players left was very entertaining. The crowd cheered on their favorite teachers, their friends, and made sure it was a competitive atmosphere. Valentina Solano, a junior on the varsity Volleyball team, managed to come out with the win, showing her quick reflexes and competitiveness.

Despite the clear success of this year’s events, there were some things that could make next year an even better experience. One aspect of these events that many including myself found odd was the fact that almost all of the competitors in these events were seniors. That made it difficult for the other grades to feel engaged with some of the events, with not as many connections with the competitors. A potential way in which this could be combatted in future events would be to pick representatives from each grade level. Having more participants in each event would make this easier, with a group from each grade and 2 or 3 groups for the seniors. This solution would allow all students to feel engaged and connected with each other as they could cheer on their classmates and friends.

Many students felt very strongly about the way this pep rally went. One sophomore stated, “This year was not as boring as it was in previous years.” Despite the noticeable improvements, it will take a lot to improve school spirit. However, despite how depressing quotes like these sound, they demonstrate change, and signs of growth are the first signals of a new era of Cresskill School Spirit.

All in all, despite some of the ways to improve upon this year’s pep rally, it is undeniable that this year’s pep rally was a huge success and a step in the right direction. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Ms. Mullen, we believe that next year’s pep rally will build on the success of this year and will be even more entertaining.