Green, blue, red, and orange streamers cascaded down from the ceiling of the Ueberroth Gymnasium on March 4. As the Sage Hill Jazz Band set a welcoming ambiance, the student community, along with new prospective students, situated themselves along the bleachers in their respective grade-level sections. The Accepted Students Day Pep Rally, featuring colorful spirit attire and high enthusiasm, welcomed the accepted applicants for the Class of 2029.
Accepted students glimpsed the variety of community events at Pep Rally through performances by Synergy Dance Ensemble and the Six C’s acapella group, relay competitions between grades, and class music videos filmed and edited by grade-level co-chairs. For weeks before the event, grade-level co-chairs collaborated with their classes to produce high-quality music videos featuring songs from classics such as Dancing Queen by ABBA to modern hits like Bandit by Don Toliver. Head of School Patricia Merz, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Dr. Matt Balossi and Dean of School Life Dominic Campeau announced the Juniors as the winners of the Pep Rally. The Junior music video incorporated songs inspired by each decade from the 1970s-2020s and included both student and faculty participation. Junior Co-Chair William Chen described the creative thought behind the winning music video and the collaboration between students.
“I would like to thank everyone that participated in the music video, especially Vivi [Ta], Katelyn [Yeh], and Russell [Qian]. Without them, the music video would not exist. It was incredible to see how everyone brought something unique to the table, whether it was filming ideas, editing skills, or just pure enthusiasm,” William said.
Following Pep Rally, Student Council President Fiori Lee and Vice President Ella Wong announced Spirit Week themes including Beach vs. Ski Day, Mismatched Shoe Day, and Pajama Day. This uproar of Sage Hill spirit coincided with the Lightning Girls Soccer team’s win in the first round of the CIF Regional State Championship and the Lightning Boys Basketball CIF Southern Section wins. Pep Rally and Sage Hill Spirit Week helped raise morale as students begin preparation for AP season and commence their last semester of the 2024-2025 school year, supporting Sage’s athletic teams and encouraging healthy grade-level competition.
“The purpose of a pep rally is to build school spirit, create unity, and boost pride among students. For prospective students, it offers a glimpse into our school’s vibrant culture and hopefully persuades them to attend Sage in the future,” William said.
With high spirits, impressive athletic performances by Sage Hill teams, and the excitement of newly accepted applicants, Sage Hill students are set to finish the year strong.
