For generations, Roswell has built traditions that have made our school stand out from neighboring high schools.
The flour toss, seniors wearing camo, pep-rallies, school rivalries, hallway decorating, and spirit weeks, are just a few special traditions that make RHS so special.
Environmental Science teacher and former Hornet, Ms. Kapusta said, “ I always felt like our school had more tradition than any high school in north Fulton, and I still think this is true!”
Over the years, the unique spirit and pride for this school has heavily declined. One of the most noticeable signs of this decline is the attendance at school events. Whether it be a football game, pep rally, or a school dance, the turnout is significantly lower than it used to be. While these traditions are still here, compared to years past, they have become lost and forgotten by the majority of students.
At the last home football game, the stands were not nearly as full as they have been in years past, hardly any flour was tossed, and the majority of students left after halftime and some even before. It was sad to see empty spots in the stands because it just went to show the decline in Hornet spirit.
This lack of participation is concerning because these events are crucial for building a sense of community and camaraderie among students. They provide an opportunity for students to come together, show their support for their peers, and take pride in their school. Without this collective enthusiasm, the overall atmosphere of the school suffers.
A huge contributor to this is students who think showing school spirit is “uncool.”
In today’s society, many students feel that openly displaying enthusiasm for their school makes them stand out in a negative way. Peer pressure and the desire to fit in can lead students to downplay their support for school events and activities. This attitude creates a cycle where fewer students participate making it even less appealing for others to get involved.
Junior MK Tucker said, “I wish our school had a little more school spirit. I think people find it embarrassing to dress up for spirit week and things like that.”
If more students got involved in dressing out, and stayed until the end of football games, and got excited about our school, it would lead to more students wanting to do the same.
Student Council Sponsor Mrs. Kapusta said, “My favorite thing about school spirit when I was a student is that it gave me a lot of pride to say that I went to RHS.”
It is clear we need to re-spark the flame of our roots and tradition. This could involve organizing fun games at football games and crowd favorites like the push-up board, chants, and flour toss, often seen at other schools. By making a concerted effort to revive our school spirit, we can create a more vibrant and supportive school environment where every student feels connected and proud of Roswell.
