During the Holidays, the NHS pep rally returned for another year, leading to the annual Malden vs Medford football game and Powderpuff game. With a day full of spirit, students of all grades gathered in the gymnasium awaiting a day full of eventful and fun activities.
The rally started off with performances from Malden High’s step team, band, choir, and cheerleaders who collaborated with the MHS football team. First, the choir started the rally off strong performing the U.S. national anthem for the crowd. Students and staff paused to listen to the performance appreciating the choir’s unity.
Following the step team was the MHS cheer team, a performance filled with tricks from every cheerleader on the floor. They shocked the crowd with their pyramids and aerials performed on the gymnasium mat. Following their astonishing performance, the MHS football team was the perfect addition to the performance as they followed the cheerleaders’ lead.
Once the performances had concluded, the long-awaited games began. This year, the games began with a new game consisting of a mattress being slid across the floor by all team opponents while racing the other teams to see who can make it across the gym floor first. “Ms. [Shauna] Campbell came to me because she had done it for the Freshman Olympics, and said, ‘Oh, why don’t we try this,” advisor Paul Marques recalled. What followed was the Box relay, a game consisting of students racing each other to roll across the gym floor in a cardboard box circle. Tug of war, Basketball, and over and under, followed closely after.
Preparation for a day full of many activities took time and patience as many of the performers went through lows and highs prepping. “We just took it day by day, sent videos in the group to make sure everyone had it down,” Ivy commented.
Junior Taliyah Lauture added to their strategies in preparing for their performance with many new people joining the step team. “We work with people and offer as much help as possible so that everybody can get on the same page.”
Most vigorously, NHS–the event host–tends to have the majority of the preparation load. “It takes a few NHS meetings, who’s gonna do what, when, why, how, and from all various forms of tasks we have to do like application forms and such,” Marques commented.
The afternoon closed off with a raffle from Class of 26 student council members: JV coordinator Vin Chau, President Linh Do, and Art Director Moon To. The three gathered, two of them in turkey suits, to crown the winner of their prize: a free Thanksgiving dinner.
As the game ended, the seniors took their final win and celebratory cheers filled the gym. Sophomores took second place, freshmen third, and finally, juniors last. Despite their losses, every grade left with high spirits from a day full of fun and competitive challenges.
