Spirit Week

Raise school spirit and increase inclusion through a week of student-lead activities.

Create a week-long schedule of activities where each class competes as a group to out-do the other three. Each will have dedicated areas of campus to decorate, compete in games and fundraising events, and produce a skit to perform at an all-school assembly. Points will be awarded, and a winner will be named.

Committees for each class will decide on their own theme for the week based on the overall theme (example: Spirit week theme may be Pixar Magic, so the Seniors choose Monsters, Inc., the Juniors choose Toy Story, the Sophomores choose Inside Out and the Freshmen choose Despicable Me). For each day of the week there are activities for the classes to compete in during lunch and after school.

Examples:

Monday – Decorate your zone (classes decorate their designated area of campus in their class theme) – 1,000 points
Tuesday – Tug of War (10-person teams from each class compete in a lunchtime tournament) – 1,000 points
Wednesday – Dodgeball (10-person teams from each class compete in a lunchtime tournament *must be different students than the day before*) – 1,000 points
Thursday – Thankful giving (penny-war fundraising where each class has a 10-gallon jug for students to donate loose change/dollars competing to see who can raise the most money for a designated and meaningful charity) – 2,500 points
Friday – Skit competition (Each class performs a 5 minute skit/lip-synch involving as many students as possible during an all-school assembly/pep-rally) – 5,000 points

For all competitions faculty/staff will serve as judges.

Additional points can be given at the Administration’s discretion for additional displays of class spirit, teamwork, citizenship, etc.

After the skits have been judged the final point tally is calculated and the winning class is named. For extra fun, create a perpetual trophy that “belongs” to the winning class for that year.

During the Friday Assembly, a representative from the charity organization is present to receive the total donation.

Preparation Required:

Create a committee to oversee execution. The committee should be made up of representatives from each class (including class President), multiple student organizations, and at least one Faculty Advisor and one Administrator.
Create a clear list of decoration guidelines (What kind of materials can be used? When can people set up decorations? How much space does each class have?)
Obtain required sign-offs for facilities use.
Publicity will be key, so make sure to designate a Publicity Chair who will oversee social media, as well as pre-week communication.

Tips for Success:

Encourage all students and staff to participate by offering prizes and incentives throughout the week (food, dance/game tickets, donated items from local businesses)
Invite the community to participate by allowing sponsorships, donations, etc.
Emphasize throughout the week that the purpose is to build spirited competition between classes to make the whole-school environment better.
Combine the Assembly with a pep-rally for a big game or event happening on campus to double-down on the excitement. Homecoming is a GREAT time!
It’s always fun to have students be identifiable throughout the week, so encourage the classes to have a schedule of dress-up days (specific color shirts, costumes, etc.)
Have FUN with it! Yes, classwork still needs to be done, but this week is all about building camaraderie and making memories. Let your hair down and get into it!

Pitfalls to Avoid:

Try not to let a small handful of students dominate the events. While it’s always hard to get everyone excited and involved, emphasis should be put on inclusivity – and points should be awarded accordingly.
Keep it friendly – this is for fun, so keep the competition light-hearted
Avoid the temptation to just let the Seniors win – it’s a competition, so every class should have a legitimate chance.

Spirit Week

© 2024 HERFF JONES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

© 2024 HERFF JONES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED