As the school year comes to an end, so do school spirit events. During the week of school dances and traditional events, the Student Council typically hosts a “Pep-Fest” to get students and staff alike excited for the festivities to come. Pep-Fest includes acknowledgement of current seasonal sport captains, a student-staff collaboration game of some sort and varying announcements for the event that is to come. In wrapping up the school year, Student Council hosted their final Pep-Fest May 7 to get Park prepped and ready for prom.
Park Spanish teacher and Student Council co-advisor Valerie Weaver said Pep-Fest planning involves a lot of hands-on work. She said her role as an advisor is to guide students and spearhead behind-the-scenes logistics.
“(Planning) is mostly guiding the students to pick activities that will fill the time, be engaging, to ask them questions like, ‘Why do you think this activity versus this activity?’ (and) ‘How can we make sure we’re including a lot of students in the experience?’” Weaver said. “Then a lot of the behind-the-scenes, logistical stuff, like ordering the rope for the tug of war, checking with the other teachers to make sure there’s a quiet space, making sure the custodians know about the Pep-Fest so they can help us set up and tear down.”
According to junior and Student Council member Destiny Bogza, the Student Council goes through varying approval processes while planning Pep-Fest. She said the club works to include refreshing, enjoyable and engaging activities for each Pep-Fest while maintaining good student-body energy.
“We start (planning) about two months in advance. Everything we do in the Pep-Fest, we like to get approved by Ms. Paddock,” Bogza said. “We try to come up with fun, new games and ideas to really tie everyone in and hype up the crowd. We kind of just find new ways to kind of get excitement into the Pep-Fest and get everyone ready for the dance or the events coming up.
This Pep-Fest was held in an attempt to spread the word about Park’s prom on May 10. Junior and prom royalty recipient Anneesa Monohar said she ran for prom royalty for personal enjoyment.
“I know there were a lot of people just running because it’s their senior year and they want to probably end off with a nice ending,” Monohar said. “For me, when I was doing it, I just did it for fun. I didn’t really know that I’d be winning because I (knew) there were a lot of other people who wanted to run.”
Bogza said it was entertaining to watch the new pie-in-the-face activity. She said this event was engaging and new for both students and staff.
“The pieing was really fun. It was a new thing that we brought to the school, and I think (it) brought a lot of enthusiasm to the students and even to teachers,” Bogza said.
Weaver said the staff’s reactions, observations and investment during the pie-in-the-face activity were a Pep-Fest highlight.
“I would have to say (a highlight was) seeing how invested people were in seeing the teachers get paid. The excitement was really fun—to see the teachers get humiliated, that was fun,” Weaver said.
According to Monohar, the most enjoyable part of all Pep-Fests is the music played. She said it brings her joy to see people having fun with the tunes.
“Seeing Dangerfield sing along to Britney Spears (was a highlight because) it was just funny,” Monohar said. “I think seeing people reminiscent (of) old songs is the best thing about Pep-Fest—the music.”
Bogza said the final Pep-Fest of the year was a success due to the student engagement and energy. She said she is looking forward to the future of the Student Council and hopes to include ideas and student-energy opportunities.
“I felt like we brought a lot more excitement to the Pep-Fest this year and we got really great reviews from students, at least that I’ve heard so that feels really good,” Bogza said. “I’m really excited to continue it next year and (to) think of more fun games and ideas to include everybody and (get) everyone really excited.”
According to Weaver, the Student Council is open to student suggestions with regard to planning for activities and Pep-Fest.
“We’re always looking for more great ideas. If people have them, talk to me, Ms. Rennhak or (to) any Student Council members and we’d love to get more student involvement,” Weaver said.
