Winsor Spirit Shines during Spirit Week, Under the Lights, Head of the Charles

October 17–23, 2022—Winsor pride was on full display this Spirit Week in the leadup to Under the Lights and the Head of the Charles Regatta. From the turf to the gym, spectators enjoyed 11 games on Friday night split between soccer, field hockey, and volleyball, while rowing had two boats on the river Sunday morning.

SASS, the Students Advocating School Spirit club, came up with daily themes for each weekday and Winsor students, faculty, and staff rose to the costume challenge. The week kicked off with terrific twenties and students interpreted this broadly from $20 bills, to flappers, and even classic pandemic attire—pajama pants with a shirt and tie, some complete with a homemade Zoom screen. On Tuesday, inspired by some of their favorite childhood movies like Bedtime Stories, Zookeepers, and Home Team, SASS encouraged students to dress up like movie star and comedian Adam Sandler. On Wednesday, the whole school got creative for “wedding day,” with gifts, bouquets, rings, divorce lawyers, and bachelorette parties roaming the hallways. There were even a few wedding bands, as well as both a corpse bride and a runaway bride.
 
On Thursday, SASS hosted the first ever Jaguar and Panther Assembly modeled after Family Feud. In preparation, the jaguars dressed as bikers and the panthers dressed as surfers a la Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie. SASS invited groups of five jaguars and five panthers to the stage to compete in a series of three questions and a chance to win points for their team. SASS selected 32 students total to participate in the game, pulling contestants from the audience based on enthusiasm and costumes. In the end, the Jaguars won the day with 67 points while the Panthers trailed behind with 56 points.  

A sampling of Family Feud questions follow:

  1. What is a Winsor student’s favorite extracurricular? 
  2. What is a Winsor student’s favorite Winsor song/cheer? 
  3. What is a Winsor student’s favorite Winsor lunch? 
  4. What is a Winsor student’s favorite Winsor tradition? 
  5. What is a Winsor student’s favorite dessert? 

[Want to test your Winsor knowledge? Scroll to the end for answers!]

On Friday, the whole school came together for Red Day. SASS representatives MC’d the event with pep rally performances that included Percussion Ensemble, the Dance Team, and a spirited cheer performance by each Winsor class. While a panel of faculty and staff judges deliberated, SASS handed out candy to winners of the Spirit Week costume contest. Class VII won the overall best cheer, with other superlatives awarded to Lower School classes such as “best original cheer,” “best choreography,” “most enthusiastic,” and “most spirited.” 

Under the Lights on Friday, October 21 was a spectacular and festive scene with hundreds of spectators enjoying the evening. Athletes warmed up in the courtyard while Winsor families enjoyed the crisp evening with cider and donuts overlooking the turf from the Lubin-O’Donnell Center balcony. A Fenway-inspired dinner was available for everyone in the Dining Room featuring vegan chili, hot dogs, ballpark-style pretzels with cheddar cheese sauce, a nacho bar, hot chocolate station, and even apple crisp. 

On Sunday, October 23, the festivities continued with finals for the Head of the Charles Regatta. Winsor had two boats racing—a Women’s Youth 4+ and a Women’s Youth 8+. Read more about the races. To close out the week, over 100 spectators made up of Winsor alumnae and current families cheered on the athletes from the Belmont Hill Winsor Boat House.

Winsor Family Feud Answers
  1. Playing a sport, acting, Model UN, Robotics, managing a team
  2. “Red Hot,” “Lift Every Voice,” “Jerusalem,” “Hey All You Winsor Fans,” annual graduation song
  3. Pizza, noodle bowls, pasta
  4. UTL, Spirit Week, Death by Chocolate, senior prank day, Field Day
  5. Winsor brownies of course!
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