Covid-19 Continues to Limit MIHS Activities

By: A.J. Hayford

The goal of a pep rally is to get everyone hyped and ready for a game, but because of Covid-19, McDowell sophomores and freshmen weren’t allowed to be at the homecoming pep rally in October.

“The admin and pandemic teams felt it was best to keep the crowd as small as possible so it was limited to 11th and 12th grades. Ninth and 10th graders still have multiple years to experience a homecoming pep rally,” said Brian Fuller, the head principal at McDowell High School. “If there were no Covid mitigation protocols in place we would welcome all our students to the pep rally as we have in the past.”

Junior Lauren Magee attended the pep rally and thought “it’s better and not as crowded” without the freshmen and sophomores.

The rally started at 2 p.m., with the marching band, cheerleaders, and color guard performing in the middle of the field while the students filled the stands.

Within the 40 minutes they had to before the school day ended, they announced the homecoming court and had a tug of war tournament, where the teachers won. Then they played bumper ball where some of the teachers went against their own children.

Fuller said there are many things that he would like to see McDowell do as a school to get excited for the teams going off to states. “I wish we had more school spirit and could do more things to recognize all our students that move on to state-level competitions.”