As students, we have a variety of opportunities to bond, unite, and support each other through a variety of clubs, activities, sports, and school events. These different school-focused opportunities are meant to raise our school spirit and make us more compelled to go to school, spend time with one another, and make memories that will last for our entire lives. This idea of school spirit, however, has gone missing at Lakota West, and other schools across the country. Looking back at the 80s, 90s, and even the early 2000s, it becomes increasingly clear that students used to be more connected than ever, and it’s not because of cell phones. The community that was formed with your high school peers was unbreakable. Why did the school spirit of today’s Lakota West seemingly disappear?

School spirit has been a prominent part of Lakota since the district was opened. Though it started small, a few clubs and sports gained momentum up until Lakota High School opened in 1959. Life back then was simpler: the activities you partook in were almost all part of the school, ranging from track to chess. These programs helped you get to know students and have a sense of belonging. Smaller student numbers also helped to make this feasible; nearly every student was enrolled in multiple sports or clubs. If you were in the yearbook club, you could also be found in the swim team, track, and student government. Although we see people today who have the same rigorous amount of extracurriculars, that number has dwindled dramatically.

One way Lakota helped to build school spirit was through traditions. In the ’80s through the early 2000s, a giant bonfire was held before each football game, with the West Chester Fire Department helping to monitor the fire and allow students to hang out around it before and after games. Students also made a large “doll” often branded after the opposing school’s mascot, and would throw it in the fire before the game to remind opponents whose territory they were entering. Pep rallies were a normal occurrence, and students ALWAYS showed up to be in the student section. These days, only the big games get much of a turn-out. Why is this?

Unfortunately, there are two things Lakota values over education: safety and discipline. Both of these, in one case or another, have been conducted so inadequately over the last few years. The West administration has failed to stop any disciplinary problems such as vaping in the bathrooms or skipping classes with punishments that vary in effectiveness. The goals of Lakota are no longer to provide students with an ENJOYABLE high school experience, but instead to get them out of Lakota and see the school’s annual graduation rate go up. As the saying goes, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey: why does Lakota lack the motivation to provide that for students?

Each year, one pep rally happens before homecoming. In 2024, the Sadie Hawkins dance almost didn’t happen due to not enough tickets being sold. Afterprom stopped after COVID-19, and the student section has died out more and more each year. Senior prank doesn’t exist as of 2024, we rarely do any sort of assemblies or full-school events, and even when we do, the teachers and administration shut it down. Lakota has lost any sense of the “experience” so many students are looking for. If you want your kids to show up for school, you have to give them reasons. We live in a world where it is increasingly easier to do your work online, from the comfort of your home. The school has been transformed into a prison, and the new cell phone policies and attempts to prevent fights and skipping are only making things worse for everyone. Why are we trying to deny the fact that being at Lakota West sucks unless you have classes with your friends?

Students used to have big water balloon fights in the parking lot at the end of the year. For homecoming, each class got a hallway to decorate and go all-out insane with. On the Friday before homecoming, two pep rallies were held, one being in the morning for seniors. Any interested seniors could perform a talent and through audience approval, one would be named the champion. In 1996, the winner swallowed a goldfish; now imagine Lakota allowing that today. The water balloon fight wouldn’t happen because the parking lots would become too dangerous. The hallway decorating would never happen because it would be too much work for custodians (which is the same excuse they use for senior pranks). The senior pep rally would never happen because the students would miss too many classes, they would become irresponsible having that much freedom in the gym, and someone would inevitably do something stupid to cause distress for the administration. It doesn’t help that many of our teachers aren’t willing to participate or even accept these events. During pep rallies, you may notice that the same teachers tend to participate each year. So many educators become too enveloped in their work to try and engage with students outside of the classroom. Just as I said in the beginning, our sense of community at Lakota West has become utterly unrecognizable.

West is, however, still capable of being a fun place, just not in their current capacity. Although I agree that students should do some work to organize it, the school could also step up to try and fulfill its role of making our high school experience memorable. Safety and discipline are important, but no one will look back at their high school time with happiness if it felt like the administration was trying to lock down any sense of freedom. These are simple requests, and there are completely feasible options to make these events happen. School spirit is so important;  when can we expect to see it make a return to Lakota West?

Authors Note: If you’re wondering where I got this historical information from, I am analyzing all of the yearbooks from 1963 to 2024, breaking down the history of our school, its changes, traditions, classes, and notable successes. Want to know what every prom theme was? How about the entire history of our football team? Want to know when certain parts of the building were constructed, what Guinness World Records we have broken, and which presidents have visited our school?  We have so much in store for you; keep an eye out for our brand new series, “The History of Lakota West” releasing April through May!