RHS staff and students came together with Ram pride and school spirit for the annual Pep Rally, which took place during school hours on Monday, Oct. 23. This event typically takes place on the Friday concluding Spirit Week; however, it was postponed to the following Monday due to poor weather.

“The entire school came together during the Pep Rally,” said Colin O’Meara, president of the Student Council.

The event began with the seniors enthusiastically storming the field, which has been an RHS tradition for years. Each grade wore Randolph school colors during the rally, packing the stands with energy and a blue and white visual display of Ram pride.

After a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem performed by the A Capella Choir, members of the Dance Department made their school year debut, wowing the audience with an upbeat performance. “It’s exciting to dance for the school community,” Dance Teacher Michele Adriano said. “Having the dancers perform at the Pep Rally brings energy and fun to this traditional event.”

Adriano said that she has big plans for the dance program this year, and she is excited for her dancers to showcase their talent “at basketball games, the anti-bullying and diversity assembly, and of course, the annual Dance Showcase in May,” she noted.

The Cheer Squad presented another entertaining performance, and Cheerleaders stood in front of their grades to lead chants and hype up the audience. “I enjoyed cheering at the Pep Rally because you get to have your grade in front of you cheering you on, and you get to have fun on the sidelines,”  freshman Cheerleader Delaney Mazzanti said.

The drumline also made an appearance, performing throughout the entire event to amp up the energy. The drumline is a huge fan-favorite at RHS, and the popular Marching Band section will continue performing at events as the school year progresses.

Student spectators had multiple opportunities to step onto the turf and join in the field-day-type activities, including the 4 by 100 meter relay, giant volleyball, balloon toss, tug of war and more. “The balloon toss was a fun event that included many participants,” senior participant Jacob Barninger said. “As you try not to break your own balloon, you can see the balloons from your competition splashing on the ground around you.”

The annual Pep Rally is the official closing event of Spirit Week, where staff and students come together to support the community and participate in charity events. At this year’s rally, RHS was acknowledged for raising $7,271 for the Morris Habitat for Humanity, a local low-income housing program. “We all united and cheered when the check was presented to Habitat for Humanity because it showed how our school was able to unite and support a good cause,” O’Meara noted.

Although the Pep Rally had been postponed until Monday, staff and students remained hyped through the weekend and into the following Monday, for the extra day of Ram pride, finishing off Spirit Week with a bang.