On Sept. 22, Spring Hill High School had their traditional HoCo pep assembly where classes competed against each other; all hoping to win the coveted spirit stick. The level of spirit in the school is contagious, and according to Tim Shea, assistant principal, school spirit has been important to students for most of the time he’s been in the district.

“They’ve been a big deal for most of that time. There were a few spots where kids just didn’t seem to care. School spirit is finally taking form,” said Shea.

Katie George, school counselor, said that when she started working at Spring Hill, pep assemblies were not something students got excited about.

George’s favorite experiences from assemblies were, “…when it started to turn around. It’s probably been a good 10 years because when I started, Mrs. [Gissel] McDonald and I were the sponsors, and we wouldn’t even be able to get kids to stand up for the fight song. So, I guess not one memory, but the memories of that kind of slowly transitioning into what they are today.”

Over the past decade, Bronco Pride became something students treasured and loved.

Marc Williams, principal said, “I have never experienced school spirit like this.  Sometimes it can get pretty crazy in those assemblies.”

Students get excited about assemblies today; the majority of them display Bronco Pride with enthusiasm. At the HoCo pep assembly, the junior class won the spirit stick and was thrilled. This year, the juniors had a few tricks up their sleeves. Some sported inflatable suits, and when other classes were cheering, they pulled out newspapers, pretending to read them. Plus, as they were awaiting results for which class won, the class joined hands.

Megan Splichal, 11, said, “I think there were two things involved in Williams choosing us to have the spirit stick instead of the seniors. They were: we used newspapers while other grades were doing their big chant, so it threw in some comical relief, and then when we joined hands, it showed our unity and hard work we put in and I think he saw that in us.”

Juniors, Splichal and Caleb Pahl both expected their class to win at the assembly and were pleased with the results. Pahl and Splichal each like the pep assemblies because it allows them to display their Bronco Pride and compete for the spirit stick.

“Beating the other grades just gave us this excitement that couldn’t be taken away,” Splichal said. “Winning took a weight off of our shoulders because we have worked incredibly hard for the win and to see us come together and accomplish that, is indescribable and one of the best feelings out there.”

The assemblies allow the students to compete against each other and gives the winning class bragging rights.

“[It’s important] because participating in pep assemblies is how we show our pride in our school, and that is how we have a little friendly competition among ourselves,” Pahl said.

George has a slightly different view when it comes to being competing for the spirit stick.

She said, “I love, love, love the school spirit, but I don’t love, love, love the mean tweets and all of that anger that goes on because in the end, we’re all Broncos. In the end, we’re all on the same team.”

Shea agreed, hinting that he thought students were more concerned about beating other classes than having school spirit.

“It gives kids a voice to be part of something bigger. Right now, I think [competition between] grade levels seems to be more important than Bronco [Pride]. But [spirit] is much better and growing every year,” Shea said.

The freshmen class may have a lot of room to grow when it comes to participating in assemblies, but they still have four years to improve their spirit. The school’s upperclassmen and faculty were eager to help by giving the freshmen some pointers.

“[They need] to get everybody involved and not just a small section of devoted kids, but have every student in the freshman class involved,” said Pahl.

According to the winning juniors, the best thing to do at pep assemblies is to get involved and have fun.

Splichal said, “I would tell the freshmen that they have to be loud and enthusiastic because even if you don’t know the cheers, it will still show involvement. Make posters, wear Bronco Pride stuff, just make yourselves visible and look like you want to be there and have fun.”

Freshmen have all the right tools to win an assembly, they just need to read the manual. Winter HoCo is right around the corner, and now that faculty and upperclassmen have shared their tips, the spirit stick is fair game.