By Cooper Hofmann

You know that moment when you strut into school during Spirit Week, dressed to the nines, perfectly fitting the theme, only to be greeted by a veritable tsunami of students wearing jeans and hoodies looking at you like a complete weirdo?  That’s the moment when you feel the lack of school spirit on the Granada Hills Charter (GHC) campus. 

This becomes even more noticeable when you see how much students from other schools participate in school activities. For example, Cleveland High School has its very well-attended Corechella and Los Altos High School holds a popular event called The Junior Olympics. Meanwhile, here we are, blinking at our calendar wondering, “Wait did Spirit Week already happen?”

There’s a major disparity between these other schools’ students’ excitement and ours. But why are we so lacking in school spirit, and can we bounce back?

Let’s start with the obvious: cost. GHC’s most recent event, Camp Granada, sold tickets for $12. Now, we get it–events cost money to run. But for a lot of students, especially those juggling jobs, siblings, or just trying to save their allowance for a snack after school, that price may be too high to participate in events. The Associated Student Body (ASB) works hard to make these events happen, but this does raise the question: how can we make school-wide events more accessible and sustainable? Finding creative ways to lower costs or offer alternative ways to participate could go a long way toward boosting attendance and spirit.

Then there are the in-school events. Club Rush is always a highlight, even if hampered by the sweltering heat. But, the smaller events like pep rallies tend to feel repetitive. Students set up a sign, play some music, and you’re expected to stand in the quad. After the first three times attending, students may lose interest. This is not ASB’s fault, however. It’s a systemic issue. Without true student buy-in, ASB can only do so much. The result is a cycle of low participation that makes it harder to justify bigger efforts, leading to the same events over and over again.

Perhaps the bigger issue, though, is the overall school culture. GHC is known for its academic rigor. Students are mainly focused on work, especially with how they strive for excellence and high standards set by many classes. There are many AP students who have to forego their hobbies and passions, just to study for an exam two weeks in advance. Although acknowledging academics is important, it’s also essential to encourage students to pursue their own interests, so that students can feel more connected to their school community and not just their GPA. 

So how do we improve?

It starts with support. Administration can play a key role by empowering ASB with the ability and freedom to create more exciting events. We need the flexibility to try new things. Most importantly, GHC should strive to create a balanced school environment where students are not only challenged academically but also encouraged to connect with their peers and enjoy being part of the GHC community. This would help GHC become a place where students can feel proud of the school they attend.