When we think of school spirit, we often think of big events like pep rallies, dances, sporting events, and club activities. However, the phrase ‘school spirit’ can have different meanings and significance depending on the school and its surrounding community. Here, at Bow High School, we automatically think of events like Bowlympics, Homecoming, Prom, and sports games. But these events have evolved over time and changed as generations have come and gone through the school. Additionally, events like Intersession and the Mattress Races brought great school spirit in past years, but have slowly been phased out for various reasons. There are many parts of Bow High School culture that encourage school spirit both in the past and in the present, and we should continue to try and find new ways to increase school spirit and student morale.
When Bow High School was first founded, the school spirit was very low as many juniors and seniors had to transfer from Concord High School. 

However, Mr. DeAngelis and Ms. Barnea said that school spirit improved after those who had to transfer from Concord graduated, and the underclassmen took over.
Ms. Hudak agreed, saying, “Once the traditions started to take hold, school spirit started to grow.”
There were many events and traditions that began to take shape after Bow High School’s first few years, including Bowlympics, Intersession, and Homecoming Week, which really helped bring more school spirit to Bow. With Homecoming always taking place early in the year, alumni Amanda (Walchak) Freeman said that it, “...always seemed so big and exciting with the bonfire, sporting events, and dance.”
Current Bow High School Junior Stenny Kula agreed, calling it one of the biggest events that brought school spirit and a great way to kick off the year.
Intersession was another event at Bow High School that brought excitement and school spirit to the hallways. When asked about how Intersession impacted the student body, alumni Megan Marshall said, “Intersession was always a fun way to start April break, and it gave you the opportunity to meet people from other grades. Personally, my favorite event at BHS was Intersession.”
Mr. DeAngelis and Ms. Barnea agreed, saying it always had, “a positive effect on students” and created more enthusiasm, as students could choose from options ranging from something as simple as scrapbooking, to big trips traveling abroad or throughout the country. It’s therefore widely acknowledged by alumni and teachers that Intersession had a huge positive impact on school spirit and student morale. However, this was not the case for all students. Alumni Amanda (Walchak) Freeman felt that Intersession also created a divide.
“I felt like these were great experiences to provide but yet there wasn’t an unlimited amount of spots to go on the most sought after ones and not only that, financially there was a big disadvantage, and when that is the case, how positive can it be when you wanted to do one thing but you either weren’t selected due to numbers or your family can afford it.” Ultimately, Bow High School stopped doing Intersession after COVID hit, and after receiving pushback against it by some teachers, parents and administration. Even so, both teachers and current students have expressed an interest in bringing it back as part of an effort to build community and school spirit.
Bowlympics is viewed by many as the event that brings the most school spirit to Bow High School, including Ms. Hudak, who said, “The Bowlympics is also a big event and people really turn out - especially for the dodgeball finals!”
Aiva Berrigan, who is currently a senior, agrees, saying that the hallway decorating is “one of my favorite parts of the year!”
Bowlympics used to be known as March Madness, which Mr. DeAngelis and Ms. Barnea remember most significantly from the Mattress Races. During the Mattress Races, students and faculty alike would strap themselves to a mattress and race around the lobby, being pulled by a partner.
“I can still picture Ms. Woo being pulled around the lobby by Ben Forbes,” reminisces Mr. DeAngelis. Unfortunately, the Mattress Races had to be put to an end due to people getting hurt, but that doesn’t stop many from having fond memories of them.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is widely believed that school spirit took a hit as it disrupted the year to year routine of the school, and many school spirit events were taken away due to safety precautions. However, now that we are back in full swing, many are looking ahead to ways we can improve school spirit.
“I think keeping some traditions alive while allowing current students to start some of their own is key,” said Ms. Hudak.
While we’ve been able to keep traditions like Bowlympics and Homecoming going, current students at Bow High School are looking at other ways we can increase school spirit. Aiva Berrigan suggested more full school assemblies, some maybe even outside during the warmer months to encourage camaraderie among students.
Mr. DeAngelis and Ms. Barnea support this idea for more school-wide assemblies, saying that doing little things like that once a month could bring more consistent school spirit.
Bow High School has gone through a long journey in its evolution of school spirit, filled with highs and lows, new traditions and old traditions. However, throughout it all, we have always been a strong community dedicated to each other and our school. Falcons fly forever!