Mark your calendars, because in t-minus 9 days Harborfields High School will hold its annual Pep Rally which will be making its comeback after last year when, due to Covid, Pep Rally was cancelled.

Tornado News Team Photograph @2018 Pep Rally

This year's Pep Rally will be held outside at the turf field during periods 8 and 9 on September 24th. While usually held after school in the gymnasium and considered optional for students to attend, the school decided, as a covid precaution they would shorten class periods on the Friday of the Pep Rally and host it during the last 2 periods of the day. This way it will be easier to maintain social distancing and keep crowds in control.

This year's Pep Rally will welcome all students to attend but even so, the contests held this year will be better than ever. Along with athletes from all fall varsity sports teams being displayed and announced, all students will have the chance to participate in mini games Leadership will also be putting together. While the details of these games are still being finalized , insight from Gaby Garcia, senior and member of the Leadership Club, says these events will be “worth the anticipation and definitely worth making the trip out to the turf.”

While Covid will force many restrictions to remain in place for the safety of everyone in attendance, some guidelines will and have been lifted. Although some guidelines have been removed, students still remain concerned as to what they will and won't be allowed to do at Pep Rally.

When asked what he wanted to see happen at Pep Rally, Jackson Carey, sophomore at Harborfields, said he would like to see “less Covid restrictions regarding what we can and can't do at Pep Rally,” he isn't alone in this. Multiple students have expressed concerns about the success of Pep Rally if Covid restrictions must remain in place.

Jackson also expressed that he would “...like to see more activities that are available for the students to participate in.” While in the past, Pep Rally mainly consisted of showing off the teams and each individual player, this year Leadership is promising more interactive activities for all students. Through this, the school is hoping this year's Pep Rally will bring back a sense of normalcy for its students.

The annual bonfire will also still be taking place this year, but will not occur during school hours. It will remain the same as previous years, taking place at precisely 7pm, right outside the gymnasium. Covid guidelines will be in place, but since the bonfire is outside, masks will be optional.

Will students be socially distanced with no masks? Will they be allowed to socialize freely with the requirement of masks? Or will the school come up with a brand new Covid plan for this special event? The only way to find out is to make sure you attend the Bonfire after school at 7pm on the same day of the Pep Rally, September 24th!

Will HF Put the “Pep” Back into “Pep Rally”?