Revamping St. Joe’s Pep Rallies: Igniting Student Excitement

For many students, pep rallies are supposed to be the loudest, most exciting moments of the school year. But at St. Joe, the energy seems to drop lower and lower every year, and students are starting to notice. What was once meant to hype up the crowd has turned into a predictable routine that rarely changes. One of the biggest complaints is the script. Every year, the rally follows the exact same lines, the same jokes, and the same corny puns that stopped being funny after freshman year. The hosts go through the motions, reading directly from the paper in their hands, which makes the whole event feel staged rather than spirited. Instead of excitement, students are met with stiff dialogue and awkward pauses.

A student performs a bike stunt, riding on one wheel during a pep rally, while a cheering crowd watches from the stands.

The activities haven’t changed either. The penalty-kick challenge, run by the same teachers year after year, has lost its novelty. What used to be entertaining is now repetitive, and students find themselves zoning out. The lack of variation has turned what should be a high-energy event into something closer to a routine assembly. Another issue is the almost nonexistent student involvement. Besides the occasional T-shirt toss, the crowd is mainly expected to sit still and watch. There are no interactive games, no whole-class versus-class competitions, and no opportunities for students to participate in the hype. When students feel like spectators rather than part of the event, it’s no surprise that the excitement fades.

Even the atmosphere struggles to spark energy. The music is quiet and muffled, doing nothing to pump up the crowd. Without strong sound or lively hosts, the rally never builds the hype it’s supposed to. Instead, it falls flat, leaving the crowd silent and disengaged. And while the T-shirt toss is usually a crowd favorite, even that needs an update. The shirts thrown out every year are outdated and almost always extra-large, something most students won’t actually wear. It’s a tradition that could easily be improved with newer designs or sizes that students actually want.

A pep rally scene with students seated on bleachers, some cheering and raising their hands, while a group of student hosts stands in front holding microphones.

The pep rally isn’t failing because students don’t care; it’s failing because it refuses to change. Many students agree that they want to enjoy the event, but the lack of creativity makes it hard to feel excited. They want to be entertained and feel like they have a stake in the event. The students want to have fun – not sit around and wait for the event to be over.

Simple updates like rotating hosts, adding student-led performances, or introducing competitions between grades could instantly boost the energy. Perhaps moving it back inside the gym could pump up the volume? Even minor improvements, such as louder music or uniquely themed rallies, could make the experience feel fresh again. With updated activities, better sound, new hosts with real energy, and more student participation, the event could become something exciting again. Until then, the rally will continue to feel like the same tired performance students have already seen too many times.