By: Izzy Becker ‘24, Feature Section Editor

Students at the Fall Pep Rally, Courtesy of James Worrell

Each school year, the School Council and various faculty members come together to discuss themes or initiatives to focus on in the upcoming year. Along with mental health destigmatization and economic equity, spirit is a top concern for this year. When thinking about Newark Academy’s spirited events, spirit week most likely comes to mind—an entire week dedicated to grade-wide activities, dress-up themes and competitions. But why should school spirit last just one week?

“It shouldn’t,” says Mr. Lieberman, NA’s new Director of Athletics. When brainstorming new ways to incorporate spirit and unity into the community, it became clear: a motto. Colleges across the country encourage camaraderie through these rallying cries. The University of Michigan is famous for their “Go Blue” slogan, Vanderbilt with “Anchor Down” and University of Alabama with “Roll Tide.” A nod to Penn State’s “We Are” catchphrase, “We are NA” was created by Mr. Lieberman and is Newark Academy’s very own motto to inspire unity and pride within the community. The motto suggests that, although the school’s student body and faculty members make up a diverse group of individuals, we all share one common denominator: Newark Academy.  

“We are NA” is a motto, as well as a call and response that teachers and faculty members can use with students to engage the community. It is commonly used in athletics by coaches, players on the field, and students who cheer on the sidelines for their favorite teams. Used in the Coraci auditorium during upper and all-school morning meetings, in clubs, and during school events like Homecoming and the Fall Pep Rally, the “We are NA” phrase is prevalent throughout the community even outside of athletic events. 

When asked about what drove him to create the catchphrase, Mr Lieberman kept it simple: “Growing up in Ohio, I had always heard people chanting the Ohio State phrase: OH-IO. When I joined the Newark Academy community,” he went on, “I realized I could integrate something similar here.” Mr. Lieberman knew that an effective mantra would need to satisfy two main requirements: short in length and memorable. “We are NA” meets both of these needs, especially due to its direct association to the popular Penn State mantra, one that many students and community members recognize.

After running cross country for three years, Anika Lippke ‘24 notes that the new slogan has “given our team a lot of enthusiasm. We’ve always had a team chant,” she says, “but now we get to have two and it increases the energy we have for our races.” Similarly, Pamela Davidson ‘23 “appreciate[s] its goal to heighten school spirit this year, especially since the pandemic may have limited spirit in the past few years. The “We are NA” motto has positively impacted many facets of Newark Academy: morning meetings, athletics, habitual student interactions and the general dynamic of school spirit.