The pep rally on January 9 at the end of the day was a huge hit with the Benjamin Middle School and really instilled some school spirit into the faculty as well as the student body.  It also got everyone back into the swing of things to help us into the New Year. Another reason it was well liked was because it shortened all classes, being at the end of the day. The pep rally was held from 2:10 to 3:20 p.m.  It was a welcome and refreshing break, whether students were stomping their feet in the gym or getting some fresh air out on the football field, playing soccer or maybe just cheering.

The first event was a relay race for each grade, orange versus blue teams.  However these were no ordinary relay races.  Before players could even begin to run, they were required to put on comical, obtrusive clothing provided to their team, such as huge sport jackets, one shoe (of random size), sport pinnies, and backpacks. They even had to carry flags.  Only after they had done this could they run.  The run consisted of a short sprint to half court in the gym and back.

Once runners returned to their teams after their run, subsequent runners had to do the same and assist their teammates in removing the multiple impediments of unnecessary clothing items.  The relay races were very team oriented. As seventh grader Mitch Faloona said, “Everyone on my team helped me put on the shoe, pinny, hoodie, sport coat, and backpack, and James [Richardson] handed me the flag. We worked together like a NASCAR pit crew. I ran the last leg and finished first. We won it for the blue team thanks to teamwork.”   James Richardson agreed that the relay race helped his group foster “teamwork because [everyone] all had to help…”  The culmination of the day’s rally, however, took place outside on Kennerly Field.

It was soccer time as each grade level, split into their blue and orange teams,  played for a few minutes against one another. The students all enjoyed the soccer games, but the faculty members had a great time, too, when they took on the eighth grade.  The faculty members who participated were Mr. Hagy. Mr. Cavallo, Mrs. Ponchock, Mr. Crisafi, Mr. DiGiovanni, Coach Keller, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. Mullnix, Mrs. Mack, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Peterson.

This game was a victory for the faculty. They played a tight game against the eighth grade with the score ending up 2-0 in favor of the teachers.  “Under the sagacious leadership of Coach Chaplin, the teachers stepped onto the field with a plan,” said sixth-grade English teacher and middle school girls’ soccer coach Mrs. Denise Ponchock. “We knew our positions, and we had a strategy.  We believe that our success during the pep rally soccer match can be attributed to careful calculation rather than just raw talent or brute strength.” She concluded by saying, “The teachers played well as a team, communicated, and remained committed to their strategy.” Seventh grader  Alex Goldberg added, “It was really fun. We should do this more often.”

So how was this all possible, and who put it together?  That would be our Dean of Students, Mr. Cavallo.  Mr. Cavallo loves coordinating events like this and he really had a great time as well. “The faculty enjoys competing against the student body, so we try to end the pep rally with a student vs. faculty game.  It is also nice for the student body to see the faculty in an environment outside the traditional classroom or academic day.”  Cavallo also specified as to when we can expect similar events in the future: “We aim to conduct a pep rally or special assembly at least once per quarter.”  It’s safe to say both the students and faculty are looking forward to the next one!