The step team performing during Pep Rally. Photo by Brandon Wong.
On Wednesday the 21st of November of 2018, Malden High School held its annual pre-Thanksgiving break Pep Rally, which is always organized by the school’s National Honor Society.
Although Malden High School has stuck to its Spirit Week tradition for some time, it switched some things up a little this year. In past years, every grade level, from 9th to 12th grade, has represented their class by gathering their best artists to make a banner under guidelines of a specific theme. This year, only seniors were given that opportunity. The class of 2019 chose to represent their class with a Disney themed banner.
The week before the Pep Rally, class representatives from NHS began requesting different class members to join their class’ spirit teams by indicating the courses they take, the clubs they are part of, and the sports they play (if any). For every honors or AP course, they got to fill out another sheet to put in the box from which names would be picked out of. This gave them more chances of being picked out to be on their class competing team.
Once everyone was picked, each team began practicing with the help of their class advisor for the competitive games that awaited them. Then, the big day finally arrived, pep rally day.
Although some classes were still in session, activities began in the gym at the beginning of the school day. Students who had free periods could head down to the cafeteria to get their faces painted with designs such as a tornado to go along with their blue and gold attire to represent Malden High School.
As soon as the gym was set up with the volleyball nets, the spirit teams got right into playing. The first round of volleyball was between the freshman and sophomores. The sophomores confidently won. The greatest rivals in every pep rally, the juniors and seniors then went next. The seniors won against the juniors and proceeded to play against the sophomores, who had won the previous game. Seniors ended up placing first in volleyball, with sophomores second, juniors third and freshman last.
The Pep rally officially started with a performance by the Malden High School Band, which was then followed by the singing of the national anthem by the Malden High School Choral Arts Society. From then on, the Pep Rally, with all of its performances and competitions, began.
The Dance Team, which is run by Blue and Gold reporter Senior Cedrina Missamou, opened the performances with a combination of current Hip-hop dance trends as well as Afrobeats dancing. The dressed up in all black with different color flannels that were tied at their waists.
The Step Team then took over the gym floor, mesmerizing the students with their matching outfits, which were sponsored by Pitbull, a merchandise company that sells clothing.
Before the final games began, the seniors and captains of the football team were introduced. The crowd hyped them up shouting out the phrase “GO MALDEN BEAT MEDFORD.” Their introduction was accompanied by the cheerleaders’ performance, which was a set the competition girls took to States. Unfortunately the girls did not place first, second or third, but hope to make that a goal of theirs for the following season.
After the performances, the class representatives got right into the competitions. The games were basketball free throw, over and under, tug of war, human pyramid and pull ups. Seniors lead in all those events except for the pyramid.
Overall, the seniors won with a total of 42 points, solidifying the reputation that seniors win every year. The class of 2019 then took pictures in the gym to capture its last Pep Rally.
Check out the Pep Rally photo gallery here.
