Imagine this: a spirit day at school where the hallways are filled with excitement and all students are dressed up. Most importantly, all students feel a sense of community and belonging. What if we could amplify our school spirit to foster a greater sense of community? Embracing participation and excitement of spirit days can make our school a place where students feel more valued, connected and inspired. Increased school spirit can do much more than one may realize; it can build a better community and make school more enjoyable for both staff and students.
Research has shown that school spirit can be directly correlated with students’ academic performance. A survey by the National Federation of High School Association found that students with strong school pride perform superior compared to their peers who don’t. In fact, 61 percent of parents who felt their child had a sense of pride for their school reported that their child performed above average in school, whereas only 31 percent of parents of kids without school spirit reported above-average academic performance. These statistics represent a strong indication that an increase in school spirit also brings along success in academic performance.
The energy that spirit days bring at Redwood already reveal that we have school spirit, but it could be greatly improved. I have felt the personal joy and sense of community on spirit days when my peers are filled with excitement and dressed in fun costumes. However, more people participating would foster a better environment overall. According to the October Bark survey, 74 percent of students wished that more students dressed up on spirit days, indicating a strong enthusiasm and desire for greater involvement.
Some may say that spirit days create room for social stigma or exclusion. Conforming to social norms is one of the most common factors that prevents people from participating on spirit days. The pressure of fitting in and worrying about being the only one showing up in school spirit attire often prevents students from dressing up altogether. But in reality, these days are meant to allow you to showcase your individuality and uniqueness. Spirit days can enhance school pride and create an inclusive environment where all students feel welcomed and appreciated. It is crucial that we see these days as an opportunity for self expression and creativity.
Looking forward to the next spirit day at school, make sure to get involved in any way you can, whether it be participating in fun activities or dressing up to match the spirit day theme. Our school must create an environment of inclusivity where all students are encouraged to feel comfortable and excited to participate in spirit days.
