SCHOOL SPIRIT: Cheers and Jeers

It's Crazy Hair Day for students at Advanced Technologies Academy, but there's one problem. Where are all of the bizarre hairdos and outrageous hair colors? Hallways are filled simply with students looking the same, as if there never had been a spirit week in the first place.

The Clark County School District's magnet schools, especially high schools, are known as home to many of the Las Vegas Valley's most dedicated students. With specialized classes, funding, hand-picked students and special recognition, these schools were meant to put students on the fast track to college or whichever career they wish to pursue. However, students say these specialized schools have their own flaws.

"We barely show any school spirit," said Nicole Ramirez, a sophomore at Southwest Career and Technical Academy. She said her school hadn't even scheduled any spirit weeks, since it just opened, but that a Pajama Day was on the calendar.

One reason for the lack of spirit may be the district's policy of not allowing sports teams at full magnet schools (instead, students must play for their zoned school's teams). And so spirit weeks are planned around other events.

"They're scheduled around concerts, performances, shows, etc.," said Las Vegas Academy freshman Justine Pyne.

But some discount the effect of sports teams.

"My guess is about 15 percent" participate in spirit weeks, said Bonanza High School leadership adviser Doreen Farmer. "I don't think it has had any impact. I think the impact comes from a winning sports team. If our teams are winning, more students seem to come to the sporting events."

Others cite different reasons for a lack of school spirit.

Not many students participate in spirit events, said Kenneth Bautista, a freshman at Northwest Career and Technical Academy. "Everyone's too shy."

And after years of not participating, it can be looked down upon to actually show a bit of school spirit.

Though many students believe that magnet schools lack spirit, some think differently.

"I think LVA has a lot of spirit, because everyone is there for a reason and they like what they do," Pyne said. "Students participate in many activities that they don't have to, which shows that they do love their school and want to see what's going on. Of what I've seen, a good amount of students participate in spirit days, because it's a day for the kids to dress up in anything they want."

Ashley Lee, a freshman at Clark High School, which is a partial magnet school, said Clark has "lots of annoying Key Club cheers, school activities like karaoke nights and stuff, and random outbursts of the fight song."

According to those from zoned schools, the best way to improve school spirit is to plan many spirit-building activities.

"Sometimes the kids seem to be excited about different events and we don't know why," Farmer said. "For instance, a big event for us is our annual Powder Puff game. We have about 70 girls playing, and 30 boys being cheerleaders, and about 600 students attend to watch the event every year."

Michelle Matherly, Green Valley High School leadership adviser, said the school tries to boost spirit and get as many students involved as possible.

"One way we will try to improve it is to reach out to more 'groups' at our school. We will try to appeal to the different likes and involvements at our school, beyond sports groups and such."

Many magnet-school students believe the lack of spirit can be remedied.

"I think various competitions with other schools would improve school spirit," Lee said.

"Maybe stressing spirit days and activities more to students will improve it," Pyne suggested.

"Actually having spirit days and knowing who our principal actually is" would help, Ramirez said. "Also, how about actually spending money on the students and not a high-tech faculty lounge?"

"Add a sport," Bautista said. "Guy has to have his stuff!"