First as a teacher and now as an assistant principal, I have been a part of the Reston community for 11 years now. I have seen change just as much as our lovely northern Virginia weather seems to do on a daily basis.
One thing that has remained constant within the South Lakes community is the school spirit.
My first memory of that spirit was at Langston Hughes MS. I remember thinking leading up to the faculty game that this will be just be a “friendly” faculty game that will not be well supported. But as I played in the game that evening, I distinctly remember seeing a raucous crowd of supporters cheering on their teams. I said to myself, this is Duke vs. UNC, middle school style!
After that game, while attending other sporting and non-sporting events, I saw the overwhelming amount of support that students here at South Lakes give to each other. I do not want to see that end. Some may say that the school spirit is tied to a certain teams winning record, but that has not been the case here at South Lakes.
I remember covering games, home and away, last year when teams did not have winning records and there was still a good amount of students in the stands, blowing on horns, beating on buckets, and cheering.
That was not the case this school year. Even when our girls basketball team made it to the regional championship and state tournament, it was not our normal Hype Squad!
Was it because it was our girls basketball team and not boys? I hope not, that is not the South Lakes way.
So the challenge goes out to you- Class of 2014.
As rising seniors and leaders, it is your responsibility to continue a legacy rich in spirit and support. Teach appropriate school spirit to proceeding classes so they know what it means to be a Seahawk.
Bobby Rae Allen said it best in the February issue stating, “if I don’t have the support behind me, then the Hype Squad will never work.” Bobby Rae is exactly right.
So I pose this question to the Class of 2014- will opponents chant “where’s your Hype Squad” next year? Or will they already know what’s up?