Are You Ready, Kids? Ever since the first official home football game, the energy of the Woodward Academy student body has been immaculate. With the excitement of being able to experience a normal year of high school, the student body has focused on being the best version of Woodward students.
Though there is a positive vibe within the students during an average school day, the question is whether or not being out of uniform shifts the energy of the student body. What leaves people in question is whether or not there is a change when the students can freely express themselves through their clothes at school. Students and faculty express different opinions about sustaining the ideals of spirit when out of uniform. Vice Principal Ronda Zents agreed that students produce a more exciting vibe.
“Out-of-uniform days accelerate our students, allowing them to showcase their individuality,” Zents said. “A lot of the time it is positive because it reflects school spirit, and sometimes it can be negative when it causes behavior to change.”
You would think that when producing positive energy when out of uniform, the student body would be given more opportunities to come out of uniform. Dr. Merrill, Upper School Principal, understood the influence out-of-uniform days have on the school.
“I’m generally in favor of rallying the school community,” Merrill said. “You know there is a fine line–if we have too many spirit days, then they start to lose their impact, but we definitely want to strategically pick those out-of-uniform days.”
By strategically choosing when the spirit out of uniform days are, students are able to prepare for the upcoming themes. Though it could be complicated picking a theme in which the student body wants to participate in, many students would argue that participating in themes is essential. Kennedy Rogers ’23 believes it is essential to have good themes for the spirit days so that her peers participate.
“I think either way we are going to be really hyped, but when everyone participates, we look really cohesive and […] look more of a team,” Rogers said.
When not in uniform, student body members feel as if they can express themselves and produce a more hype attitude. Having a spirit out-of-uniform day on game days advances the energy to a more uplifting attitude throughout the school day. Justin Clopton ‘23 understands the true importance of unity that results from the spirit days.
“I believe we all come together collectively in this pursuit of an ideal or whatever the theme we have going on, and it energizes the crowd and the football players,” Clopton said.
The students use this time to excite their peers and the teachers. Many people forget that the teachers and administrators also use spirit days to express themselves in a way that may differ from their dress code. Jack Cronin ‘23 expresses his thoughts on the faculty’s point of view on out-of-uniform days.
“I think it affects the faculty pretty positively,” Cronin said. “I’m sure they like to get out of their dress codes, but I feel that there is a negative effect on them because students probably pay attention a little less from personal experiences.”
Spirit out of uniform days shows how the student body can produce a positive effect when being able to express themselves not only through their clothes but also through their energy during the school day.
“Everyone is more excited to be out-of-uniform, especially with spirit days, and it gives everyone a chance to be relaxed,” Rogers said.
