Student are constantly looking for any way out of wearing their school uniforms, and Spirit Week, which comes around once a year, gives them that chance. Spirit Week is three days of school spirit that leads up to the varsity football homecoming game on Friday and the Upper School’s homecoming dance on Saturday.

The Spirit Week themes in the Middle School this year were pajamas (Wednesday), jeans and favorite athletic jerseys (Thursday), and blue or orange spirit shirts (Friday). Spirit week’s goal is to basically hype everyone up for the homecoming game and create an electric atmosphere. It’s also a nice break from the normal school routine, and gives students a chance to express themselves through their clothing. “I like that we can express our Benjamin spirit with our personality,” said eighth grader Logan Sorensen, who wore striped pajamas on Wednesday and a Dolphins jersey on Thursday. “It’s fun to dress up comfortably for a few days of the week,” said eighth grader Martin Cvetas. “My favorite thing I wore on Spirit Week was probably my lacrosse jersey.”

In addition, the varsity game was well attended by The Benjamin School community, and the Bucs rewarded their fans with a 43-3 trouncing of the previously undefeated Saint Andrew’s Scots.  “I think they played amazing,” said eighth-grade varsity football player Brandon Powell. ALthough he didn’t play in the game, he liked what he saw from the Bucs on the sideline. “They established everything they needed to establish, and accomplished what they needed to accomplish.”

That certainly was true as the win helped propel Benjamin into the playoffs, and it was a festive atmosphere with food trucks at the game and a homecoming ceremony at halftime during which the Homecoming Court was announced. Senior King and Queen were Chas Peckham and Katy Blain, Junior Prince and Princess were Frankie Spellman and Cameron Pirozzi, Sophomore Prince and Princess were Gian-Carlo Abbonizio and Wells Carr, and Freshmen Prince and Princess were Khani Johns and Crystal Pauldo.

In a nutshell, Spirit Week was a pleasant change from a regular week and made a lot people excited for the game. “School spirit is unique to every school, but here at Benjamin we have a tradition of 57 years of school spirit,” said Head of Middle School Mr. Charles Hagy. “It’s a chance for students to really step back each day to have a spirit day. We are thankful we are together at this great school celebrating all of our traditions to build up to Friday’s game.”