Elementary music teacher Deja Armstrong has decided to instill an old tradition into a new generation of Hawks.

She is working to teach her students in second, third and fourth grade the traditional school song after a years-long hiatus.

“First, we looked at the vocabulary in the song,” Armstrong, who took the music teacher position in 2020, said. “What is ‘Oh, hail to the green and the white’? The kids thought I was saying a bad word, so we had to define what hail means and so on. Then, we learned the syllables. Once we could say it, we sang it with music — line by line, but with a much slower tempo.”

Students used a YouTube video that Armstrong created to practice outside of the classroom, and they are taking on a new sense of pride to be carrying on the legacy. 

“Mrs. Armstrong put this video on of the song, and she would point to the words, and we would follow along,” second-grader Bennett Buhle said. “It makes me feel happy and like I am carrying on a tradition. I am really proud.”

As the youngest Hawks learn the tradition, past graduates remembered the song as a staple throughout their elementary, middle and high school days. 

“When I was in elementary school, we had to learn it in order to go to the pep rallies,” 2003 graduate and high school art teacher Megan Timmermann said. “They made us stay back in the classroom and write it over and over again and sing it to be able to go, but still, in high school, we sang the song.”

The lyrics are also triggering fond memories for some students who remember learning the song, but haven’t heard it for several years.

“The first time the kids sang the song, it was really cool because none of us knew they were going to be singing it,” cheerleading co-captain and senior Emily Green said. “They haven’t sung it in a long time, so to hear it was really sweet. It was such a big tradition at every football game and every pep rally, so it’s nice to see it coming back.”

Armstrong has also taught her students the National Anthem, which has become a spectacle at the pep rallies.

“I teach kids about going to pep rallies, teach The Star-Spangled Banner, teach them the etiquette,” Armstrong said. “I did not know it would take on a life of its own with the kids that has now become a tradition of its own.” 

Armstrong and her students take great pride in picking back up the school song spirit. Armstrong hopes that as her students get older, they will continue to sing, and the tradition will continue strong into future generations.

“I am really humbled that I get to be the one to do this,” Armstrong said. “I am also super proud of the fact that these students of mine love the idea of being part of history- –bringing it back. It’s overwhelming sometimes that I get to be their teacher, and I get to be the one that brings that to the kids.”

Wall Hawk School Song 

To Theme C of “Stars and Stripes Forever” 

John Philip Sousa 

Oh, hail to the Green and the White

Wall will forever fight.

We are proud to carry our name,

For the Hawk is our emblem of fame.

We acknowledge our school with pride

That never within us has died.

We will fight for the right of our school.

Old Wall High! Over all we will rule.

Our hearts grow intense with delight

As our team marches forth to a fight,

They are brave, they are bold, they are strong.

And they’ll roll our foes along.

We extend our reign o’re the fields.

To our foes we never yield.

We will boost our team with our might.

On to victory! On to victory! We will fight.