Pauline Tsui
Students showing school spirit at a fall football game
Many would say that school spirit is the defining characteristic of a great high school. Whether your mascot is a bear, a tiger, or an eagle, school spirit gives students something to be proud of about their school; it’s something they can celebrate with fellow students and peers. That being said, Drumbeats conducted an anonymous survey to determine how Indian Hills students feel about their own school spirit. The survey consisted of three questions: a) On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate Indian Hills’s school spirit in comparison to other schools?, b) How often do you participate in school events?, and c) How do you think we could improve school spirit at Hills?
The majority of students rated Hills’ school spirit as a 3 or a 4, and 56% of respondents reported they regularly attend school events, such as sports games and IHTC plays. When asked how school spirit could be improved at Hills, students had many different responses and diverse ideas. One respondent suggested that “teachers, advisors, and students with leadership positions should advertise larger school events more often so that more people know about them.” Another student proposed that Brave the Eagle get an entire makeover, as he “seems a little outdated as compared to some other schools in our area.” Others remarked that there “needs to be a mindset change when cheering on our school.” Indian Hills may be stereotyped as less competitive sports-wise when compared to Ramapo, but that doesn’t mean we can’t root for our school all the same!
If these recommendations could be summed up into just a few, simple words, it would be: to advertise more for school events on Schoology, involve more students in pep rallies and Class Council decisions, and overall, change our mentality when discussing Hills’ school spirit. Ben Wuensch, a sophomore at Indian Hills, stated, “I think that Hills, despite her size, has the most school spirit out of most schools.”
Underclassmen, get involved and stay involved in school events! Being part of such a supportive and inclusive community as Indian Hills is a gift, and it’s important to encourage pride in our school every day. Upperclassmen, set an example for the younger students! Sports games will continue to have smaller turnouts if no one gives the younger ones the real Hills experience. And remember, as Coach Hill famously and regularly reminds us, “It’s a great day to be a Brave!”