Spirit of Community *AM Session
Senior Facilitators: Kirby Herndon, Elise Mollica, Kristen Richey
Responses for RC:
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Sense of openness, importance of only 10 seconds a day
Cliques embraced Rachel’s Challenge, chain links brought people together that had been
previously divided
Choose kindness (even if the presentation didn’t come to your school)
Don’t take life for granted, you never know what could happen
How do we keep RC alive throughout the year when everyone has other commitments and
worries? Does its impact have to be temporary?
o Advertise for meetings to revive the spirit
o Meetings during school (people have to attend at least one) and clubs are better known
o News/announcements aren’t really shown/ teachers don’t enforce it
o Leadership students announce events during “homeroom,” posters
o Twitter accounts for clubs or email lists
o Club day meetings- conflicts between the clubs themselves
School-wide Events/ Involvement
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Santa Day- help local youth
Clubs to help rake leaves in the community b/c maintenance crew was injured in a car crash
Canned food drive (between classes or grades)
Mountaineer fest- games, laser tag (part of homecoming)- coming together of the school and
outer community
Fall Week + hall decorating, Saturday games (no lights), with Winter and Spring Day
Each grade has their own theme for spirit week, Dress-up days
Karaoke + judging and ranks, entire school is in one place @ one time
Door decorating competitions- creativity, themed skits for homecoming courts
Pep rallies- either a hassle or effective
Do rivalries between grades promote community or cause divisions?
o Threat of violence? Need to focus on more unifying competitions (EVERYONE wins,
enjoy your spirit)
Football games- student section to support our teams!! Precedent of superfans/fanatics
o Tailgating before the games
o Radio advertising to get people to come to the games
o Restrictions of the administration? Balance between control and freedom
o Parade before the homecoming game with local sponsors for the clubs (partnered with
Students for Teachers)
o Competition between buildings, brought together by tragedy (color days for cancer
awareness , National Kindness Day)
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Hosting a dinner to raise money for a cause (ex: relief for the Philippines
River Fest- vendors at the school, car show, donations/prizes, for community to be involved in
the school
Involvement for EVERYONE
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Voting (class representatives/ presidents, etc.)
Class assemblies with reps announcing events for the coming year
Club Fair- booths to advertise each club, find things you might be interested in, can talk to
people who lead the clubs to get more information
Summit- identified/trained people to be welcoming to all grades, new students, don’t judge
people by their age, grades, etc. Transitions can be really difficult- be aware of that
Opened sports to all grades
3 Major Take-Aways
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Getting the administration involved
Have more pep rallies (involve students)
Have community-wide events