Spring Pep Rally Connects High School, Community

 is doubling up on pep rallies this year, but with a little more emphasis on the rally (and still plenty of pep) the second time around.

The seniors have talked about holding a spring pep rally—a follow-up to the school’s homecoming pep rally in the fall—for a few years, but hadn’t mustered the initiative to make it happen until this year, according to teacher Lisa Trapani, who organizes the fall rally and is helping with the spring as well.

But the students wanted to put a different spin on the spring rally, which is being held Thursday. Rather than the traditional class vs. class competitive pep rally theme, they wanted an event that would bring the whole school together.

“Not that the pep rally in the fall isn’t positive, cause I think it is,” said class officer Christine Hill. “But I think this in a sense is trying to unite the whole school. But it also has this second positive aspect, where it’s really a whole day committed to community in general, not just within the high school, but the high school community reaching out and helping other areas and the greater community.”

The pep rally is just sort of the centerpiece. Throughout the day Thursday, students will take part in various service projects, including a fundraiser for students at the Chesterfield Elementary School (where several children were injured and one killed in a bus accident earlier this year), writing letters to soldiers, donating shoes to Soles 4 Souls, and a food drive.

The other element that separates Thursday’s rally from its fall counterpart is that it leans away from the typical sports/athletics-style competitiveness of most pep rallies.

“Usually in the (fall) pep rally, you see the athletes rise,” said Bode Adunbarin, another class officer who has helped organize the event. “This time you’ll see different kids show their talents.”

“Some of it’s just fun. It’s goofy things that anyone can kind of participate in,” said Hill.

Class officer Mary Pensiero mentioned there will also be a guest speaker coming in to talk about anti-bullying and a presentation on the pros and cons of social media.

Class officers Allie Smith, Vince Renzi and Ben Cohen have also assisted in the planning of the event, which Trapani said will be carried out by future senior classes.

“They will have started this tradition, so they should get credit,” she said of the 2012 class officers.

The pep rally begins around 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Those wishing to donate shoes for Soles 4 Souls can drop them off between 7:45-10 a.m. at the MAC (the athletic center) at the back of the high school.

Visit Moorestown Patch Thursday for photos and coverage of the pep rally.