On Fridays, the halls of the school are noticeably different with large numbers of students and staff wearing blue and white clothes, a result of a policy to boost school spirit through our school colors.  is is part of a new agenda by the PHS administration, led by Principal Frank Chmiel, to foster respect and unity while increasing student engagement in the school. Other actions, including hosting the Welcome Back Tigers event and creating a student advisory committee that meets with Chmiel monthly, are steps in the right direction. Even before the pandemic, students were rarely seen at school events with the exception of a few concerts and football games and would have rather spent their time picking out PHS’s flaws. COVID-19 has exacerbated this issue, with many expressing disdain for the administration and the weight of a seemingly unbearable workload. However, there are signs that the new policies are already working: Even at the class meeting, usually one of the most dull events of the year, there was a new sense of hope.

How can we continue to improve our school spirit? For one, viewing our school more positively would help. While pointing out flaws is perfectly normal, we need to do so in a productive way to improve PHS. One example of this is the student response to the schedule changes last year. Complaining to other peers might not have resolved the issue, but when students rallied together to present their issues to the Board of Education in a constructive manner, they reached a compromise with the administration that, while imperfect, was a noticeable improvement. Though some demands went unmet, compromise was necessary to preserve students’ voices in policy while getting the board to agree. Similarly, when we find flaws within the school, instead of simply airing out grievances during lunch or between classes, we can work together to proactively change policy. But beyond trying to improve our school's facilities, we should also be proud of PHS' diverse student body. Often, people can be heard making negative comments about certain clubs or sports. Though these seem like jokes, these comments can lead to detrimental effects and students not doing what they want to do. While some clubs may have more prestige than others, it shouldn't matter since they are all composed of students who enjoy what they do. In order to foster a sense of school pride, we should embrace the different opportunities and the talents of the student body rather than discouraging students from pursuing their passions. By encouraging diverse interests, we can each add aspects to our school spirit and make PHS truly different from other schools.

Unity and pride may be the last thing on peoples minds in this transition to an in-person environment, yet this is arguably the best time to try to bring the student body together. When we navigate the obstacles that are to come, we should help our peers by paying attention to their needs and contributing where we can to make the school more welcoming and diverse.

School pride isn't celebrating PHS for being a perfect school. Rather, its celebrating the progress we've made and will continue to make in order to transtorm our school into an environment where the students and staff support each other at every turn. School spirit Fridays wont be  enough, but its a start. In this new year, we should aim to be a different student body with a stronger sense of unity and school pride.