There’s nothing I loathe more than a good celebration. I don’t know if it’s the crowd factor or the “yay rah-rah” of what I can only attribute to something I usually have about as much desire to attend as an orthodontist appointment, but somehow, spirit week is different. Somehow, seeing our school all decked-out in blue and white and the electrified energy of the staff and students brought a whole new meaning to that comradery, community and sensational “sis boom bah” that is school spirit.

“I like blue-and-white day,” Natasha Ring, a Wilton High School senior and member of the field hockey team, said. 

But it wasn’t just Ring, or the field hockey team, or the fact that it felt like every Who down Whoville was cheering on the football players or dressing up in decades-themed outfits — the seniors especially excelled in their early-2000s attire- not that I’m biased or anything. Everyone was wearing their warrior pride, even behind the scenes, there was a lot of planning involved.

“Typically the Executive Board starts planning spirit week the year before,” Kristina Harvey, English teacher at Wilton High School and co-faculty advisor of the Executive Board, said. “But because we were still in this pandemic cohort, we didn’t meet with our incoming executive board until the fall. The minute we met in August, we started planning.”

Cathy Campbell, a Wilton High School senior and student body president echoed Harvey’s sentiment that planning was rushed this year.

“I would say since the first executive board meeting of the year, which was early September, we have been planning homecoming and spirit week and the pep rally,” Campbell said.

But like everything else, spirit week was not without its challenges and thanks to Harvey, Campbell, and all the people who likely “sis boom bah-ed” so much they were ready to throw their togas in, being flexible and adapting quickly was key.

“We did have to make some adaptations to the pep rally and the homecoming dance,” said Campbell. “And we had to change days. There were a lot of last-minute changes to accommodate for the weather.”

Harvey agrees, crediting the students and staff with the success of spirit week. 

“There were a lot of unknowns and variables,” Harvey said. “But with all the planning and the delegation of needs, the students always step up. The staff is so professional, they say they can do it and they do it. It was a real tribute to the community that we’re celebrating in spirit week.”

Community, comradery, all that sensational “sis boom bah-ing” and for all my loathing, I was already feeling bittersweet. It was my last spirit week at Wilton High School, the place I’ve called home for almost four years and I knew I would miss it. I knew next September, I would remember all of the “go team go” and “toga, toga, toga.” Trying to figure out how to tie that sheet around my body without looking like a sad ghost was the highlight of the week. I’ll long for the days when my biggest problem was deciding what to get at the Wilton Deli or what my senior quote should be.

Onto the next thing, I guess. After all, there’s got to be some other reason to attempt wearing a toga and spirit week… big blue and white success and that definitely calls for a celebration!