The annual senior pep rally at Homewood High School has become a beloved tradition, celebrating the senior class with a day full of long-standing customs.
Featuring routine swaps among the HHS senior cheerleaders, Star Spangled Girls and color guard, as well as senior and teacher superlatives and the infamous pieing of football players and cheerleaders, the pep rally is a highlight of the school year.
“The pep rally has been going on for as long as I remember,” Michele Cooley, HHS Student Government Association sponsor and English teacher, said.
A central part of the pep rally is the “senior swap”, a tradition that began in 1999. Senior cheerleaders, Star Spangled Girls and color guard members all switch uniforms and learn routines from each other’s teams. Cheerleaders and color guard members learn a dance routine from the Spangles, while Spangles take on a cheer routine, and all three groups learn a flag routine as well.
“The tradition was created by the girls themselves and it was meant to be silly and show how each girl’s strength lied in what they had chosen to do,” Jennifer Ayers, HHS Star Spangle Girls Coach, said.
Each team choreographs a routine for the other squads to learn, after which the teams practice individually before coming together for combined rehearsals. These joint practices focus on perfecting transitions and cleaning up material, especially in the challenging flag routine.
“Each squad learns their particular routine, and then we come together to practice the details, transitions, and the most difficult part- the flag routine,” Rachel Loughney, HHS cheer coach and English teacher, said.
Over the years, the senior pep rally has evolved. Originally, the pep rally was held in the auditorium. Now, it takes place in the gym, along with all of the other pep rallies to create a more engaging environment. The tradition has also expanded to include the color guard over the past decade.
“Some of the most fun years are when there are Star Spangle Girls with a cheer background or some cheerleaders with a dance background because they really have a moment to shine while they’re in the other role,” Loughney said.
Another tradition at the pep rally is the announcement of senior and teacher superlatives. The entire student body nominates and votes on teacher superlatives the week before the event, while only the senior class nominates and votes on senior superlatives. Those with the most nominations advance to the last round of voting where the final results are decided.
“It is fun for the seniors to get nominated for different superlatives and see their friends win,” Cooley said.
Winners of the superlatives get called down to the floor to receive their title and then face off in a dodgeball game in front of the whole school. It’s teachers vs. students, with bragging rights on the line for the winners.
Finally, the most infamous of the senior pep rally traditions, senior cheerleaders and football players partake in a “day of silence”. They must avoid talking to other classmates for the whole school day. If they fail, the student they talk to gets to pie them in the face at the end of the pep rally.
With its blend of friendly competition and school pride, the senior pep rally remains a cherished tradition that brings the HHS community together at the end of every football season.
