In its first year at South, the freshman class is using Facebook and other technology as a main source of communication to plan fundraisers and events and raise spirit.
On Friday, Jan. 29, the freshman class is holding the first event of their own, a dance.
“We thought it would be a good idea to have a dance, because everyone likes them,” freshman class officer Emily Ho said.
The dance is scheduled to be just a couple of weeks from the start of vacation and Valentine’s Day. “It will be a relaxing [event],” Ho said.
To spread the news of the dance and other information, the Class of 2013 has a group on Facebook that they actively update. With 302 members in the group, news easily reaches all freshmen. This group was created because “all freshman class officers are aware that almost all freshman go home and check Facebook at least once a day,” Class President Yoonchan Choi said. “We thought improving communication would increase spirit and make messages go quickly.” Because students check Facebook daily, news posted in the group is hard to miss.
Using such technology also makes it easier for students to give opinions of their own.
“Using the internet makes it easy to get input because it’s not very formal, so no one feels intimidated to post ideas through the page,” Choi said.
For the upcoming dance, the class officers have asked students to suggest themes that they think would make the dance more entertaining.
“People are suggesting theme ideas, which will make it more exciting for everyone to come,” Ho said.
The class officers have made a big effort to get input from the students and transfer their ideas into actual events or fundraisers.
“You can tell class officers what you want, and they can put those ideas into events,” freshman Lucy Hoffman said.
Freshman Sara Gelles-Watnick agreed. “The class officers clearly listen to you,” she said.
According to the dance’s Facebook page, 165 students plan to attend the event, and 96 may attend.
Along with the dance, the freshmen are currently organizing a fundraiser in which they will sell “rose grams.” Students can order roses for their friends that will be delivered the week of Valentine’s Day. The money from this fundraiser, along with the profit from the dance, will go toward the funds for the freshman cruise.
“We want to put [the money] toward freshman cruise, because it’s the biggest event of freshman year,” Ho said.
One of the freshman advisers, science teacher Alan Crosby, has noticed a high level of commitment to work among the class officers.
“They are very involved and meet regularly. Not only do they have good ideas, but they also follow through with them,” he said. “I can’t stress enough their willingness. It’s great.”
Crosby has also noticed much enthusiasm among members of the freshman class. “They are very spirited and interested in making the Class of 2013 have a lot of spirit,” he said.
Many students find it exciting to show spirit and contend that being in high school makes it easier to do so.
“In middle school there was no school spirit, but in high school there is,” Gelles-Watnick said. “[Showing spirit] is very fun.”
Freshman Noah Rivkin agreed.
“[Students] used to be [involved in] different scenes, but now we act more as a unit. It’s cool to be spirit-y,” Rivkin said.
“I feel like people are more accepting of spirit [at South] and get more into it,” Ho said.
