Starting a new tradition...

Yesterday, marked the first pep assembly in the history of GSIS. Honestly it was quite an amazing thing to see. At home we don't think much of it because we all know what an pep assembly is. Imagine introducing the concept to an academically focused school in an academically focused country and you can imagine the potential for total self destruction.
Athletics are just not the prominent domain for most students. "Popular" students are the ones known for their outstanding work in the classroom and in service to the school. It is just so different.
But true to form, the students filed into the gym. We have between 300-400 students in the high school I would say, which is a very large group all things considered.
This was of course after we had to redirect most of them from going to the auditorium since that is where all other assemblies have been held to this point.
Then came the passing out of the thunder sticks. Not my idea, give a kid a weapon...and of course they beating each other on the head, but then again some of the teachers were whacking back so it was fair. As they filed in, chants for the local soccer team rose up because that is the only thing they could relate this event to.
Luckily our student leaders did an awesome job with explaining when the thunder sticks were appropriate and when they were not. They also explained the meaning behind a pep assembly.
Then it was our turn....the first time playing through the fight song. True to form the 59 members of the band did a fantastic job, not only playing out but dealing with the unexpected need to pay more than once. It is never "by the book" in an assembly. The greatest thing was to watch how these staunch academic students transformed into being kids within an hour. It never got out of control, but they just had fun. By the end of the assembly they were singing as many of the words to the fight song as they knew with pride. It was great to see them come together as one group in support of their school.
I know many of them stayed to watch the volleyball last night that never would before because they wanted to cheer on their school in a different way.
To be a part of the start of something like that is pretty humbling and amazing. I don't know where it will lead eventually but at least this one event was fun, primarily because the kids enjoyed it. NO I am not starting marching band. NO I am not starting pep band, but I do support these kids who work so hard and one day I hope they learn to trust in me as well. I have to keep earning that trust, but this was one big step towards making that happen.