“V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, this is Barstow battle cry!” resounded through the soccer field. After over a year of no all-school gatherings, the fall pep assembly was an exciting event to reestablish togetherness, a feeling sorely lacking after months of isolation.
“It’s very important that the school be able to unite together for a common front and show its appreciation,” emphasized Ava Levin (‘24).
At this year’s fall pep assembly, Middle School, Upper School, and faculty were able to come together and participate in a wide variety of activities, with one thing tying them all together: Barstow. Pep assemblies are a celebration of community, a necessary practice to revamp school spirit and cheerfulness in an especially stressful time.
For the final quarter of the 2019-2020 school year, and the entirety of the 2020-2021 year, pep assemblies were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Traditionally, pep assemblies happen in the Varsity Gym, with Upper and Middle School squeezed onto the bleachers, and Lower School lining the basketball courts. Now, to keep COVID-related safety, the pep assembly was transported to the Varsity Soccer field where students and faculty could spread out and stay safe.
Ethan Walz (‘22), “feels like some things are going back to normal cause we didn’t have pep assemblies last year, so it made me excited that school is kind of coming back.”
The school spirit created by pep assemblies was definitely missed during 2020. As Dr. Kory Gallagher, Assistant Director of Middle & Upper School, put it, “I did not really enjoy pep assemblies all that much, but then we didn’t have them and I missed them.” Not only does spirit bring students and teachers together, but allows students to take a much needed break from the stress of college apps, AP classes, and SAT prep.
All of Upper School and Middle School was at the pep assembly, spread out across the track, cheering and having fun. The different activities planned for the pep assembly effectively excited the students and signs made by pep club gave each grade someone to root for during the senior-faculty soccer game, elevating a sense of friendly competition. During the fun game, every pass and goal elicited a cheer from the engaged audience.
The assembly was mostly a successful event, but not everything ran smoothly.
“We had a few bumps only because it was outside and it was difficult for some people across the field to hear us. Everything was just so spread out because we tried to stay within COVID guidelines, but overall I think it went really well,” said Pep-Club president Rosemary Warren (‘22).
Students were dismissed early at 2:45 and led out to the track field where everyone sat with their grades. Bringing together every student was helpful to introduce and reacquaint students with their classmates after a year of being apart.
“When we were all sitting together as a class, I felt like I could talk to more people than I normally would,” said new student Meera Al-Rajabi (‘25).
Pep Club presidents Rosemary Warren and Samantha Georgie (‘22), along with Coach Don Stelting, Director of Athletics, made announcements to help hype the crowd and introduced the various fall sports teams.
The boys tennis team, though not a fall sport, was given a recognition because of their win at state last spring. The team did not receive the normal ceremony to be honored for their achievement due to COVID, so this pep assembly was used to celebrate their impressive triumph at state.
To help bring together the crowd and create some competition, a senior captain from each team was paired up with a group of middle school students who play the same sport. Luke Whitfill (‘22), captain of cross country, Max Parr (‘22), a captain of boys soccer, Brooke Dryden (‘22), a captain of girls volleyball and Niki Adma (‘22), captain of girls golf were wrapped up by the middle schoolers to look like pumpkins and had to dribble a ball around an obstacle.
Bringing together the Middle School and Upper School is one of the most fun parts of the event, and all the middle schoolers agreed that it got them pepped and excited for high school.
“It was a good first pep assembly of the year,” said seventh grader Stella Shumate. “I think all the chants made it a lot better […] it got all the middle schoolers excited and then our teachers were mad because we were doing it for the rest of class.”
Each pep assembly, pep club hosts a game between the seniors and the faculty. Historically, games have included basketball, volleyball, and tug-of-war. Gus Ketchell ‘23 commented that “the tug of war that we won as freshmen against the seniors” was his favorite pep assembly activity ever.
This year, the faculty and seniors participated in a soccer game, with heavy-hitters like middle school English teacher Scott Guldin for faculty, and soccer captains Vikas Maganti and Max Parr ‘22 for the seniors.
Ethan Walz, a senior who played at the game, said that, “It was fun to play,” and he felt “extremely pepped.”
The game was contentious, with both sides receiving plenty of cheers. Unfortunately for the seniors, the faculty won 2-1, thanks to goals scored by Cayden Willams (‘19) and Coach Huppe. This win was unprecedented, as the faculty have not won a senior-faculty game in almost 10 years. Dr. Gallagher emphasized the feeling of this win against the seniors explaining, “it was awesome to get to demonstrate the intensity of the faculty to the seniors.”
To end the assembly, STUCO president Maddie Bauman (‘22) and Pep Club Presidents Rosemary Warren and Samantha Georgie (‘22), led the Barstow Upper School in the traditional battle cry. Echoing the cheer, the freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors each stood up in order shouting “V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, this is Barstow battle cry!”
Among the students and faculty, the pep assembly was a popular event and many people look forward to events to come.
“It’s important to take a break from schoolwork and have something to look forward to,” said Ava Levin, (‘24).
Leaving class early to go to the assembly, however, was not appreciated among all students; “the only thing I had a problem with was that the last class of the day was shortened,” said Quinn Luce (‘23).
It seemed to some that the upperclassmen were a bit out of pep-practice, “There was sub-par pep from time to time, some moments of good pep, but overall average pep I would say,” said Ethan Walz (‘22).
Due to the lack of pep assemblies last year, this was a new experience for freshmen and sophomores, and the unfamiliarity with the activities and battlecry was evident at times.
“The pep could have been a little bit peppier. I think our pep muscles are a little tired out from last year and they need to be worked out,” said Dr. Gallagher.
As the school year progresses and the community at Barstow grows closer, the pep will only heighten, and Pep Club has many plans to unite Barstow even more. The Pep Club president, Warren (‘22) mentioned that the club has many more activities planned, including a spirit week before homecoming and more assemblies.
“Pep Club is very important with themes and bringing students to games,” said Warren (‘22). “We’ve had a good turnout so far with not only soccer games but volleyball games especially, and so we hope to continue that into our basketball season as well, to keep students entertained and present.”
Ketchell (‘23) describes the assemblies as “a great school experience.” With the reinstatement of pep assemblies this year, everyone can look forward to making more lasting memories and becoming more involved with Barstow.
Not only does Pep Club plan events for the whole school, but they have various ways to keep people engaged and in the know for events to come. Warren (‘22) said that the main goal this year is to communicate with the students and get people engaged. To stay updated on Barstow sports, fun activities at school and the pep club as a whole, follow them at barstowpep on Instagram.
Pep assemblies and school spirit in general have helped Barstow unite during an especially stressful time. The Upper School, and the rest of Barstow cannot wait to yell the battle cry a few more times before the end of the year.
