On December 15, students gathered in the new gym during period 12 to cheer for fellow student-athletes in the Winter Pep Rally. The Winter Pep Rally is a great way to highlight the various winter sports teams and promote the hard-working athletes. This event commends the JPS Hawks and applauds them for all the hard work they put in during the season. 

Before the event, the athletes were excused from their period 11 class to meet up with their team in preparation for the pep rally. Unlike the Fall and Spring Pep Rallies, the Winter Pep Rally is held indoors, which limits the number of students who can attend. This requires class sign-ups due to the limited space. Nevertheless, the pep rally was a success. While students entered the old gym, they were greeted by their fellow teachers and boosted school spirit.

“The Winter Pep Rally is smaller than the one held in the fall, but I always feel like there is even more school spirit. Getting to see the other teams and the goals for their season is so inspiring,” said senior Sophie Bauer, captain of the girls Winter Track team. “While being a captain has been a big responsibility, it is one that I loved to take on. I think it is important to create a strong team bond, and that is what I strive to do.”

First, the Winter Track Team was introduced. The current captains announced the names of the varsity runners and then introduced the rest of the team. All athletes from the bowling, cheer, wrestling, swimming, color guard, indoor drumline, and hockey teams ran across the gym while waving to their classmates and showing off their talent to the crowd. For instance, the basketball team entertained the crowd by performing a slam dunk. The swim team entertained the crowd when two athletes held a fellow teammate as they “swam in the air”. 

The cheer team stole the show at the Winter Pep Rally with their unique and spectacular performance. JPS faculty joined alongside the cheer team in a brilliantly choreographed dance routine by pairing up with a student cheerleader, showcasing their excellent dancing skills to the crowd. The collaborative routine brought their school spirit and pride to the “dance floor” which bolstered enthusiasm around the gym. Students laughed, cheered, and clapped as they saw their teachers break out into dance and song.

“Being able to watch our teachers take part in an entertaining performance made the whole pep rally so much more fun, and also revealed a new side to our teachers that I don’t think we’d have seen otherwise,” said sophomore Shriya Sriram. 

The JPS dance team showcased their talent and skill to the crowd to end the winter pep rally. Their routine was set to a mashup of songs, and the team left a lasting impression on everyone with their energetic and skillful performance. 

The Winter Pep Rally was a great chance for students to support their fellow athletes and encouraged students to attend future games and events hosted by the athletics department. In essence, the Winter Pep Rally boosted a sense of pride and unity among students.