A “little bit of normalcy”

by Tom Coombe
Thursday was a milestone day, of sorts, at Ely Memorial High School.
For the first time in more than a year, the entire high school student body gathered together.
The occasion was the school’s first pep rally since February, 2020, held as part of Winter Frolic Week.
Julia Schwinghamer was crowned queen and Riley Bishop reigned as king over the festivities, which also included a performance by the school’s dance team and a game of “Big Ball Soccer.”
The pep rally marked another step in a return back to normal at the school, where the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a series of event cancellations, sport shutdowns, schedule adjustments and even long periods of time where school was not in session for in-person learning.
Students in Ely have been back in-person since early-February and the pep rally was put together at the request of the student council.
“The student council came to me and asked if there was any way to do some sort of pep rally,” said principal Megan Anderson. “Kind of ‘what can we do, what can’t we do’ sort of thing.”
Thursday’s event combined a bit of the usual with the unusual because of the pandemic.
Only students in grades 9-12 were in attendance, spaced out in the gymnasium in both the balcony and main floor.
The loud music of Ely’s pep band, a staple at high school pep rallies, was noticeably absent.
“We don’t have band at all this year, so that will be different,” said Anderson. “So it’s a scaled back but we’re still craving that little bit of normalcy.”
The school held a Fall Homecoming celebration in early-November, but students were not in school together at that point, as Ely was in the midst a hybrid model in which separate groups attended school two days per week.
With in-person learning back, Anderson said students were more enthused about Winter Frolic.
“They’re excited,” said Anderson. “Some of them thought Homecoming was kind of lame while we were in hybrid. We would have Monday and Thursday as the same dress-up day and then Tuesday and Friday. It’s fun to have them all see each other.”
The school had a series of dress-up days this week, and royalty candidates were announced earlier.
Schwinghamer was selected Winter Frolic Queen from a group that also included Brynn Vollom, Elsie Vollom and Hailey Schaller, while Bishop was one of four King candidates - along with Jake Anderson, Jackson Flom and A.J. Walker.
The pep rally didn’t have the traditional tug of war, but “Big Ball Soccer” was played with students remaining in their respective education cohorts.
Both the girls and boys basketball teams had home games this week during the celebration but another traditional Winter Frolic event - a weekend dance - was not scheduled.
Plans are in the work for further “normal” activities for Ely students, including discussions about a possible Prom in May.