Due to the introduction of the Power Hour, the traditional pep rallies have moved from  the gym to the courtyard area outside the cafeteria. Also, in previous years pep rallies were scheduled at the end of CAP schedule days so the announcement of sports team rosters along with cheer and dance performances were part of a dedicated assembly.

Pep rallies are now held while students are eating lunch or studying outside, and junior Juan Rodriguez said the change has been good.

“I definitely think that the new pep rallies have helped with encouraging school spirit,” the varsity basketball player said. “They help get me hyped, and more people are coming to the games because of them. They increase support of our athletics, which is something we lack.”

But dance team captain Devin Dolnik disagrees.

“The pep rallies seem to get some people excited, but I don’t think that they raise support for the seasonal sports as much as they could since we just mention them briefly after we are all finished performing,” the senior said. “Honestly, I do not enjoy the new pep rallies because I believe that they don’t really raise school spirit. We just kind of perform out of the blue and the other sports teams aren’t really highlighted.”

Despite some complications, junior cheerleader Allie Kellner said she remains hopeful for raising school spirit.

“I like the pep rallies because it gives people who don’t go to the games a chance to see what cheer and dance is really about,” she said.”Stunting is hard because of the concrete, and even though we use a mat, it’s still more dangerous. The whole point of cheer-leading is to raise excitement, so I think the pep rallies make people more excited.”

Sophomore Jason Nemeroff said the change in pep rallies has generated interest in other aspects of campus life.

“Playing during lunch has helped people notice jazz band more,” the jazz band member said. “It’s not something that they have to listen to like a traditional pep rally, it’s more of ambiance. There are some people that really get into it. Some people even dance when we play more energetic songs.”

By Rachel Montgomery