Newtown Middle School students and staff capped off the week before winter break by competing in the school’s annual pep rally on Thursday, February 23.

Each grade had their own separate pep rally, with seventh grade holding theirs first and eighth grade holding theirs immediately afterword. Students filled the bleachers of the school’s gymnasium on both occasions, hyped to cheer on their classmates. All the while, English/language arts teachers Leslie Duda and Cristina Daddona emceed the event.

The pep rally saw the school’s clusters face off in various “minute to win it” games to foster teamwork and community throughout the school. Some students competed in classic games such as “Tug-Of-War,” where they pulled their end of the rope to drag the other team over a line, or the “Balloon Relay Race,” where they had to sit on and pop a balloon before swapping out with the next person.

Others competed in games like the “Toilet Plunger Race,” where students had to sit on a scooter and use a plunger to get to the other side, all while keeping their feet off the ground and maneuvering around cones in the way.

There was also “Human Hungry Hungry Hippos,” where students paired up to collect plastic balls scattered across the gymnasium floor. One student laid on the scooter on their stomach, while another student held them by their ankles to cart them around. The student on the cart held a laundry basket to scoop up as many plastic balls as they could to fill their team’s plastic container.

NMS staff even had a chance to participate in a few games, one most notably being the “Student Versus Staff Volleyball Game.” Each cluster across both pep rallies had a chance to compete against teachers, counselors, or even the school’s Principal Jim Ross and Assistant Principal Brian Walsh.

No matter the game, students showed their school spirit by cheering their classmates on throughout the event. Students also went all out when it came to showing support for their cluster. Many were fully decked out in their cluster’s color, with some even wearing face paint or holding up signs. NMS PTA members sold cluster spirit gear over the course of the week leading up to the event, where students could buy tutus, sunglasses, headbands, bandannas, and leis in the color of their cluster.

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.