Sonora El rallies school spirit

On Wednesday Sonora Elementary School held the first of three school spirit rallies to be held this school year. The event not only rallied student spirit but encouraged healthy life choices as well.

“Are you ready to rock ‘n’ roll?!” shouted school counselor Kerri McCluskey. “Our focus is on making good choices and not getting messed up on drugs.”
 

The 45-minute rally for sixth- through eighth-graders was a variety show of sorts including a “Don’t get powdered by drugs,” powdered doughnut eating contest, two yelling contests, an anti-drug skit, a free-throw basketball contest and a Cha-Cha Slide dance.    

“You need to make good positive choices about what you put in your body,” McCluskey said as grade levels competed in calling out the lines of the song, “Another one bites the dust.”
 

Each grade level came up with different anti-drug slogans. The sixth-grade slogan was “Eat some pie, don’t get high,” seventh-grade was, “Tobacco is whacko,” and the eighth-grade slogan was, “Crack is whack.”

Club Live, the middle school version of the anti-drug action group Friday Night Live, run through the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency, performed a skit about not doing drugs and making good choices.

The wrestling team was recognized, as was teacher Jeff Juhl. “He’s been a true team player for all these years,” McCluskey said.

Each grade competed against each other in the various contests and the seventh grade won the overall Spirit Rally, announced Superintendent Margie Bulkin.

“This is to promote school spirit in a positive school climate,” McCluskey said. “And it’s working, bit by bit.”

The school is trying to be resourceful in terms of activities in the limited budget year, McCluskey said.

The rallies are intended to not only recognize athletics but to build unity and cohesiveness between the students, McCluskey said.