A lot goes into prepping for pep rallies, and there’s a new group of students contributing this year: eighth-grade advanced art students are painting themed signs for each assembly.
Students work during their art periods, and occasionally during lunch and homeroom, to research the designs, paint and perfect them. Each design directly correlates with the weekly theme of the pep rally.
“I think it’s pretty cool to give the middle schoolers the opportunity to be shown in the pep rallies,” eighth-grader Addison Sowell said. “Some say, ‘Thank you, Coach Brooks and your eighth-grade class for the posters,’ but I think it’s cool to see them up there.”
This is the first year middle school art teacher Robyn Brooks has had two periods of eighth-grade advanced art, and both classes work on the signs.
“I love it,” Brooks said. “This way the junior high gets recognized at the high school pep rallies and hopefully it will keep them entertained and wanting to do art again.”
Students, teachers and people across the community have commented on the signs and recognized the middle schoolers’ artistic talents being showcased.
“I like the circus design we have done,” eighth-grade art student Morgan Rutledge said. “It had a big clown and big cotton candy on it.”
The students took on the project after the high school cheerleaders asked them to help.
“It is a big time saver for us,” cheer sponsor Marta Lopez said. “We would have to take the time out after school or during activity to make the signs when we could be practicing. With [the art students] doing it, all we have to worry about is hanging them up.”
Many are thankful to the students who have put in time to design the signs and to Brooks who is inspiring her students to create.
“I think it’s wonderful,” senior varsity cheerleader Avery Jameson said. “One of my favorites that they have done was for the Hawaiian pep rally. It had an ombre sunset and multiple 3D elements. Them helping out has been really great, and they are phenomenal artists.”
