We Got Spirit, How 'Bout You?!

At the beginning of the school year, new teachers were assigned clubs to be the sponsor of.  I, however; was not put on the list.  (Yes, in hind sight I see the awesomeness of that but at the time I was an eager first year teacher who wanted to be involved, get to know more students than just the Special Ed ones and not feel left out).  So I volunteered myself to help the 2 new teachers put on the Rocket Club, aka the school spirit club.  And if I'm honest here, I will go out on a limb and say that although our club is a joke I might just be one of  the best thing that has happened to spirit here in this run-down little town!

Anyways, the club is a joke because when we meet on the First Tuesday of every month, we do nothing but sit in the cafeteria and make small talk with our social groups.  I had grand plans of each meeting involving poster making, electing officers and the school being filled with the spirit of my clubbers!  But I lost all that go-get-'em juice approximately 2-3 months into the school year.  I did accomplish what I said the club dues would cover:  designed a rockin' t-shirt that has the 'famous' pep-rally chant on it, purchased maroon and gray shakers and face tattoos!  Then I quickly peace-ed out of any responsibility.

Today is the first Tuesday of the month.  And when I got my reminder event email yesterday, my eyes tricked my brain into reading "Event Cancelled".  I didn't even question anyone, I just made a mental note that I was off the hook for this month!  I even told a student today when they walked into my room to ask if we'd be doing anything that "We aren't doing anything because its cancelled!".  I should've looked into it when the student thought I was crazy but I just told her "I have the email, you want me to pull it up to prove it?!" (Should have followed through with my sass.... Then this whole entry would be null and void).

So, I am on the phone with my insurance company trying to figure out how to get the best bang for my buck for a new pair of eye glasses when I hear the assistant principal get on the intercom and announce the clubs that will be held today.  And because I am the world's WORST multi-tasker I can't hear her nor the nice helpful man on the phone telling me what I could have paid if I had just done some research...  The bell rings, I quickly and respectfully get off the phone (I just finished a survey with the company giving him my 2 thumbs up in hopes he won't have a horrible rest of the day due to my urgency) and call my co-sponsor to see if Rocket Club had been listed. 

It was.

Now, I normally don't have any plans for the club to do but I at least have a nice new print out of the members and who still has yet to pick up their spirit pack but instead, I grab a Manila folder to make myself feel like I am legit and run like I am not on the 3rd floor with a skirt and high heeled boots on.  I get to the cafeteria after most of the club has and sit down with Jennifer.  Almost immediately, a student asks what we are doing today.  When I look up to give her a sass answer, I see an administrator.  AN ADMINISTRATOR IN OUR ROCKET CLUB MEETING!!!  Seeing as though this is the one time I actually have nothing prepared with me, I say "Start a chant!  Now!".  Luckily, this girl was a confident, fun and spirit filled-girl who smiled real big and went back to her table.  Within minutes, she had her entire table participating by either dropping a sweet beat on the lunch table or throwing a line about the Rockets!  It was kinda hard to understand, which may or may not be a good thing, but it grabbed the attention of everyone in the lunch room, even the I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table! 

Whenever I hear a beat, I can't help but tap my feet, swing my shoulders and wave my hands like I just don't care! And that I did.  In front of 9-12 graders, a teacher and an administrator.  Once that particular table finished, they said some mumble-jumble that 'challeneged' another table where a weak little cheerleader tried to express her love for her school but when that failed, the first table just did it again; as another administrator joined the party!  When they threw it back one more time, the cheerleader (who is also a soccer player and had been showing her I'm-a-senior-and-too-cool-for-anything table how I "cheer" at the games) yelled: "Throw it to Peters!".  And they did.

My friends, it was thrown and it was caught. 

If you know me AT all, you most likely know that I will not and can not throw down a challenge, especially when it has to do with spirit and/or potentially making a fool or myself.  So, Ms. Peters, the teacher but at the time clearly actin' a fool instead, said (while I move around like I am straight up Will-I-Am rappin'):

'We got spirit, YES WE DO!  We got spirit, HOW 'BOUT YOU?!'.

Yep.  That's what I said.  Out of anything  I could have said or done, I shouted back the lamest chant there is because my club was being monitored by 2 administrators and I had a room full of students staring at me, expecting me to deliver.  And who am I to let those kids down?!  Instead of the typical response of a louder "We got spirit" dialogue, I of course got a roaring outburst of laughter.  And then a round of applause.  Even from the administrators. 

From then on, we went from more beat droppin' to chant line makin' to step dancing creatin'.  And today, the Rocket Club had fun!  Today, the Rocket Club fulfilled the description of 'leaders of spirit in their school'.  Today, there were no plans for Rocket Club. 

May you have a no-plans-but-gonna-make-it-HOW-'BOUT-YOU kind of day as well!