The Cheer Team: Not Just Skirts and Pom Poms

By Ms. Faith

Have you ever wanted to join a sport at school? It promotes school pride, spirit, and comradery. That is exactly what the cheer team is bringing back to Cal Prep. Did you know this isn't the first time Cal Prep has had a cheerleading squad? It is; however, the first-time post-pandemic Cal Prep has manifested their Grizzly Pride in their cheerleaders.

Our small squad has not only put together cheers for our sporting events, but also dance performances for both indigenous peoples town hall as well as spirit dances for award townhalls.

What would a cheerleader be you ask without her uniform? A cheerleader's uniform gives her strength, confidence, and pride. Currently, our cheerleaders have lost NO steam when given the news that Aspire has no budget for our uniforms. Unlike other sports teams, cheerleaders don't simply put on a jersey and play a game. They are the physical embodiment of what our school represents in pride and spirit. Athletes, hard workers, commitment to the mastery of their craft and most of all, leaders and scholars.

The girls already have tentative plans to raise money. Not just for their uniforms, but for shorts, half tops, shoes, and poms.

As their title infers, they have supported one another, brainstormed how to solve this problem best and most efficiently. Not only are these young ladies resilient and supportive of one another and their athletic counterparts, they are scholars. Most of them holding up more than their end of our GPA agreement.

What many people don't realize is cheerleading isn't just about skirts and pom poms. Our cheerleading squad is about lifting each other up. In a time when schools are about individuality and succeeding alone, our squad not only supports one another, but our job is to support our athletes. That mindset can be intoxicating to our small school community when so many people, teachers and students alike, need a helping hand. Being in community and bringing our school family together is that helping hand. Cheerleaders are the physical, visual representation of that spirit.

When we think about cheerleaders as athletes, not only do these ladies do cardio every practice, they have to learn how to tumble, stunt and dance all in the 5 hours they have in a week to practice, in addition to being allowed to participate in other athletics like soccer, basketball etc. Do you think these ladies are doing enough? Of course not! Our scholars also maintain a mandatory GPA, and for those not meeting the GPA, we are encouraged to uplift each other in study groups or asking coach for help.

In short, welcome Cal Prep Cheerleaders. We are so much more than just skirts and pom poms. For present day Cal Prep, we represent hope.