The fun and dazzle of spirit week always triumphs among the students involved. The bright boas and the interesting outfits bring out the best laughs and competition between classes, but what do students need to do after?

Every year spirited students have to play catch up due to all the unit tests and fall sports for state series that always seem to fall during spirit week. So while students are scrambling to figure out their next outfit, they are still left with the stress of tests during the week.

“Teachers still plan tests and hard things in class… Due to getting up even earlier in the morning for spirit week, I am even more tired than normal and not fully in my academic brain to [do work]…,” said junior Fawne Ford.

In a survey of 51 students, 27 said they have late work due to spirit week, with 13 needing a day to catch up, nine needing a few days, three needing a week and two needing a few weeks.
Senior Juliette Reyes said, “It’s hard to focus during class and after school it’s hard to get myself to sit down and do work.”

Some students had trouble trying to stay on task during and after school while others struggled choosing between fun after-school activities and schoolwork.

“You want to go to every after school thing for homecoming but sometimes you only can choose the important things because you still have work to do,” said freshman Elizabeth Staubus.

While the stress of schoolwork during spirit week won’t go away, it’s important to acknowledge our observations from the past and change them for the better. Many students and teachers suggested prioritizing the week prior to having more free time, doing your needs before your wants and staying focused when doing schoolwork.

Kathy Young, math department chair, said, “The experience of homecoming spirit week is a great memory. It is important to know how to balance the great experience and the responsibility of learning. We can do both.”