Students in each grade are providing their perspectives on Cumberland High School Spirit Week and how it went.
By Stella Williams, CHS Freshman
Going into my first spirit week as a freshman, I was very excited to see what was to come and see all the activities that were planned.
Powder puff was the first activity, and it was amazing. Seeing all my friends on and off the field was so fun. The atmosphere was something that you can only experience if you go and really have fun.
All the students dressed in their class color, people taking photos, and the overall vibe of the night really made it a great experience. Even though the freshman didn’t win, the people there sounded and looked like they all had a good time.
Along with another activity is class clash. This was very fun going to see each grade fight to win a challenge, everyone still in their color with face paint, glitter, necklaces, glasses, etc Really showed the school spirit and what spirit week was all about.
A couple things I didn’t realize is that a lot of people show up to these events and really go all out for their class. The seniors were the most outgoing which is rightfully so because it was there last year but there were a lot of freshmen at the activities and all of the people there really brought up the spirit.
I am very excited for next year’s Spirit Week because I know it is going to be just as fun as this year’s. I can’t wait to do powder puff and class clash again because the overall vibe of each activity was something that you can’t replace. I’m going to miss powder puff the most because it is so fun to see my friends on the field but it is even better watching the amazing cheerleading the boys do.
Along with that, I’ll also miss the spirit that the seniors had because they made the vibe of each activity so much better. Everyone that goes to the games always has a good time doing what they love with their closest friends and really shows the CHS school spirit.
By Sydney Huard, CHS Sophomore
We started the week off with a bang when we won hallway decorating with our theme of the season, fall. Our hallway consisted of lots of leaves, spider webs, ghosts, and lots of orange. Our hallway decorating skills improved immensely from our skills last year. As a group, we planned days before. We thought of some ideas of main decorations for the walls and ceilings. We also had student government members creating signs and decorations before the big day so we would be prepared. If we are being honest, I was expecting a win for us, but I’m so glad we did because now we can go into next year knowing exactly what the judges will want and what we will need to pull out a win again.
Day 2 of Spirit Week was powder puff. This was the event I would say our grade struggled with the most. Placing last for both cheerleading and football. Our football players practiced some time in advance but not enough to pull out a win against any grade. Our cheerleaders also were rushed in their practice when we needed last-minute volunteers for our cheerleading squad. Thankfully they remembered their routine, and in my opinion, they did a great job for the three of them. This will be an event we will really need to prepare for going into next year.
For day 3 of Spirit Week, we introduced a brand new event, Family Feud. Hosted by Mr. Georgio, it was played very similarly to the on-screen version. This being a new event, I don’t think any grades were too confident, but the sophomores still tried their best. Though it was rough, experiencing many steals and many strikes, we managed to end the night with a win.
Day 4 was one of the most looked forward to days of the whole week, the most iconic event, Class Clash. The sophomores were definitely in attendance, but some may not have noticed because of our not-so-successful night. We tried our best but found ourselves falling behind in most games. Nevertheless, we tried our best and had a great time. The sophomores will come in strong next year and will keep getting better as we move up in grade.
Finally, the week ended with the Pep Rally at the end of the school day and the homecoming game after school. The homecoming game sadly ended with a loss, but all of our sophomores that showed up filled the student section and near the fence to support the players and cheerleaders. Next year we will definitely be back and stronger than ever, especially from our starting success from the beginning of the week.
Ella Casson, CHS Junior
At the beginning of every school year, Spirit Week rolls around, and whether you’re a competitive person or not, everyone secretly hopes they beat the seniors at something throughout the week. It could be your hallway decorating, the powder puff cheerleading performance, or even just a small game at class clash. But by junior year that quiet hope becomes a real competition.
Walking around on Monday, you really couldn’t tell what month we were in and after school, the juniors showed their school spirit placing second in our hallway decorating contest leaving the seniors as runner ups, and turning the lower language wing into an early Christmas. Call me biased, but I think our winter wonderland was better than the cobwebs in the upstairs language wing. On Tuesday, though, the Christmas spirit melted away as we traded our holiday cheer for Adam Sandler outfits during the day, and cheerleading uniforms and football jerseys by night.
I can admit the senior cheerleaders really put on a show and were hard to beat, with nearly twice as many participants in every class, but we didn’t come up too short, placing second behind them. They might have some good dancers but couldn’t beat us in football. Our team was stacked. Maya Garland, our quarterback, was out on the field throwing spirals like a modern day Tom Brady and McKenna Maher stepping up as her go-to receiver. The junior girls caused a major upset by placing on top of powerpuff football. What happened to the senior sweep?
The juniors’ win in powder puff football must’ve shaken things up because the seniors ended up placing last in the family feud. Somehow though the freshman ended up being runners up and the sophomores took the gold with that. I don’t know how underclassmen knew more about Cumberland than both the senior and junior class but there’s a first time for everything. I guess we both need to work on our trivia knowledge.
But Thursday is when the real competition began, Class Clash. Competing in the classics like, shipwreck and tug of war really brings out each class’s spirit . The juniors put up a good fight, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to put us on top. There were also some new and creative games this year from fruit roll up eating contests to wig snatching with the class of 28 winning both. While the seniors have more experience than the juniors we definitely came together to support each other and gain points as a class. Although the juniors come to class clash hoping to win, it’s also a chance to show our class pride and prove that we’re more than just competitors.
On Friday, walking around the hallways seeing seas of blue, just shows how this week was to truly bring us together and not just create competition. Homecoming week is a way for our school to come together and have fun. After a week of neck to neck events, as a school we get to come together to show out as clippers. Even if we don’t beat the seniors as juniors in spirit week points, it’s not always about winning, but more to unifying as a class as a new school year begins.
Sydney Martins, CHS Senior
“Where’s your school spirit?”
This is arguably the most-heard question for a freshman at Cumberland High School during Spirit Week. For me, it certainly was. As a freshman, I was like many others before and after me. I didn’t want to participate in Spirit Week. It was too much work, too much to buy, and – how terrifying – it was embarrassing. Dressing up as a holiday for a full day, to be seen by everyone and anyone? Yeah, I would rather not. So, I claimed I had nothing to wear and showed up in comfortable, dreadfully unenthusiastic clothing for all of Spirit Week. I didn’t even go to any after school events until my junior year. Whether it be because I was busy, or just didn’t want to go, I missed out on a lot that I regret now.
Senior year was much different. It held a different weight this time. It wasn’t my first year, with plenty of time to spare and an “I’ll go next year” attitude. I can’t go next year. Next year, I will be off to college and probably not see many of my 2027 class again. This is it. With each day that I dressed up in the morning, whether it be for Seasons Day or Clipper Pride, there was a weight to it. This is the last one, so don’t take it for granted.
Multiple times during the week, especially during Class Clash, I paused and looked around, watched the people around me. Most of these people I have known for years, some even from elementary school. We used to talk about what we would do when we got older, and here we are, the age we once dreamed of being, and experiencing many “lasts” we didn’t account for. I couldn’t allow my lasts to be anything less than my most. Now, as I look back on the week, I’m happy with how it turned out. I’m proud of myself, my friends, my classmates, for making it this far, and continuing to go farther. And as I put our pictures into the yearbook, I only hope for the best of our lasts.
