When the lower Sunshine Coast’s high school students go to school between May 29 and June 2, they’ll be dressed to impress — and win.
It will mark the school district’s first-ever Spirit Week, and it was dreamed up by SD46's District Student Leadership Team (DSLT). Students are encouraged to dress according to changing themes: Medieval Monday, celebrity-look alike Tuesday, Anything But a Backpack Wednesday, Thursday’s pajama day, and Formal Friday.
“By holding this event we hope to help bridge the divide between schools on the Coast, because we have noticed there is a lack of connectivity between schools in our District,” DSLT’s Cael Read wrote to Coast Reporter. “This has been amplified by COVID due to restrictions, but we hope by holding this event we can start to build more connectivity and nurture a more unified school district.”
Read and Annalisa Achee, who sits on the DSLT and is the SD46 student trustee, told Coast Reporter said the Coast’s spread-out geography plays a role in the separation between schools and a sense of rivalry.
The themes of each day were chosen to include everyone and generate creative fun.
While the event is designed to bring students together, there will be a friendly competition aspect. Gibsons Building Supplies, where Achee works, has donated the grand prize: a $1,300 patio set to the school that racks up the most points. Local businesses, the district and school PACs have also arranged other enticing prizes. Students can earn points by participating. The high schools are designated North or South: Pender Harbour Secondary and Chatelech make up North, while Elphinstone and the alternative school are South.
“We’re hoping that this is going to be a hit. We’re all really excited about it,” Achee said.
“We just hope everyone has a good time,” Read added.
