When was the last time you felt truly excited to come to school? Many students at The Columbus School say that school doesn’t feel as fun or connected as it used to. The laughter, energy, and traditions that once filled the halls are slowly fading. With more academic pressure and fewer events that bring people together, students are losing that sense of belonging. School spirit isn’t just about cheering at games, it’s about feeling proud of where you are and who you share it with. So why is it disappearing?
School spirit at The Columbus School is declining because of stricter rules, high academic stress, and a lack of inclusive events. To rebuild it, students and teachers must create more meaningful and fun experiences that make school a place of community, not just academics.
One big reason for the loss of school spirit is that new rules and rising academic pressure make school feel too serious. As a Senior, Candelaria Fernández explained, “I think that it’s a little bit mid because the school now has new rules and they expect us to behave a certain way, to act like adults, when in reality, they still treat us like little kids. So I think that the spirit in the school is declining also because the academic rigor is going up.” It’s hard to feel excited about school when you’re treated more like a child than a young adult.
Students also feel the loss of fun traditions that used to make high school memorable. Fernandez said, “Yes, I think that seniors when I was in ninth grade were a lot more fun. They had a lot more fun at school. They did a lot more pranks. They also had more permissions to do other kinds of things. And I think that spirit at school has declined a lot since new rules have appeared and some opportunities for seniors have been taken away from us.” When freedom and creativity disappear, so does excitement.
Teachers see this change too and believe we need more exciting and inclusive events. High school journalism teacher Andrew Jordan Shainker said, “I would say that I think at the Columbus school, we don’t do enough pepper allies. I would love to see like Team color wars or like houses, you know, where people really get into it.” He added, “I think that if we are into it, students will be into it. I don’t care what age you are. I don’t care if you’re a senior or you are a freshman. This is really something that you can dive into.”
Inclusivity also plays a huge role in building school pride. Mr. Shainker shared, “I think that we can make things more inclusive by making sure that it’s not just about physical ability, that there could be a team challenge where a group has to create a dance, then they have to create a song, then they have to create a race where everyone could use their strengths to build upon one another.” Similarly, Fernandez suggested, “I think that that maybe have more integration with the whole year, maybe do more convivencias on one school year or have a day in school like when we were little, that were like sports days and have these kinds of activities more throughout the school year.”
Some people might think school should only focus on academics and that fun activities are a waste of time. But as Fernandez said, “Honestly, I think that it has no effect on the school and what I believe that has an impact on the school spirit is like how we behave when we are here and not actually what is posted in social media.” Mr. Shainker also reminded us, “I think that school spirit is one of the most important things about a school. We’re not going to remember the paper or where we put a comma or. Yeah, we’re going to remember the events that are transformative.”
Bringing back school spirit starts with us, but it doesn’t end there. If we truly believe that school should be a place of joy, pride, and connection, then we need to push for change, participate in new activities, and bring back the traditions that made TCS feel alive. School spirit isn’t dead; it’s simply been overshadowed by stress and strictness. With creativity, collaboration, and a commitment to making school fun again, we can rebuild a community that feels united, energized, and proud. The Columbus School can be that place again, and it’s up to all of us to make it happen.