Spirit Wear Days Up the Game for School Spirit

School spirit is taking center stage throughout Great Hearts Arizona in our 12 prep academies with the exciting new initiative of weekly Spirit Wear Days. While spirit days have had their place in our upper school academies, typically occurring three or four times during the school year, this year marks a significant change where students can now wear their school and team logoed shirts on a designated day each week.

This shift is part of the Prep School Promise, an initiative based on parent and student feedback, where we’re working to take the very best that we’ve offered families for over 20 years in classical education and moving it to the next level to improve the high school experience, while deepening a sense of pride and community among students

The introduction of weekly Spirit Wear Days provides students with the opportunity to showcase their involvement in various sports and clubs. This is more than just a fun dress-down day, these Wednesdays serve as a powerful reminder of the teamwork, dedication, and camaraderie that define the student experience at Great Hearts.

“We’re so excited to be upping our game this year,” shared Veritas Prep Headmaster Theresa Weiland. “Students [at Veritas Prep] are able to wear their spirit wear on Wednesday and really have an opportunity to kind of show off a little bit about the sport that they participate in and I think it’s really one of the most fun things that we’ve instituted this year because it really helps cultivate the excitement around campus, around sports, and other clubs, and it just kind of helps you connect with the student body.”

For student-athletes at Great Hearts, being part of a team is about more than just competition. According to Veritas Prep Athletic Director Chase Beebe, “It’s about being part of something larger than themselves. A team is greater than one individual and spirit days are a great opportunity for our athletes to show that and show their pride to be a part of that team and show the unity with their team when they’re all having the same team uniforms on. And additionally, all the other students at the school get to show their pride and their support for our athletes and just for the school in itself,” he said. “It’s a really beautiful thing.”

Spirit Wear Days allow them to express their excitement and spirit by wearing their school team apparel with pride. This not only strengthens the bonds within teams but also encourages their peers to show support and appreciation for their classmates’ hard work and dedication.

“Thinking about the classical ideal that we strive to [instill] in our students, we hope that students will grow morally, intellectually, and athletically,” explained Weiland. “It’s very obvious how a couple of those things can happen during the school day, but unless students are really brought into the idea of participating in athletics, some students might not have that natural draw, so I think it’s great for peers to be able to see their classmates know that they’re participating in cheer, or in pep band, or in soccer, or in swim, or cross country, and maybe gain a little bit of curiosity about what it might be like for them to do that.”

Ultimately, weekly Spirit Wear Days create an atmosphere of celebration and connection across campuses. They reinforce a culture of excellence, school pride, and community, reminding students that they are part of something truly special. By embracing this tradition, Great Hearts continues to build a vibrant and supportive school environment where every student can find a place to flourish.

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