By Paige Cooper ’16, Staff Writer

After students have acclimated to the arduous workload during the first few weeks of the fall semester at the Academy, they anxiously await the arrival of Spirit Week. There is nothing more exciting to Newark Academy students than the busy week of competitions between the different grade levels and extravagant dress up days. The long week ends with the Pep Rally, uniting the student body once again. While all of the craziness spreads throughout the school, the schoolwork increases as midterms are sent out the week after. Newark Academy students work to find a balance between completing their schoolwork to the best of their abilities while still finding time to root for their grades and take part in the various festivities throughout Spirit Week.

Students and teachers are both fully aware of the obstacles Spirit Week brings, especially the distractions it creates for students and their studies. While it is childlike nature to want to participate in the games in which the entire school is competing, it is still their responsibility to get their work done and keep their grades up for the midterm comments. Many students are hit with a large load of assessments (in some cases one in every class) during Spirit Week because midterms get sent out the next week, and teachers want to schedule another assessment so that the grades are most accurate. When asked about the timing of assessments during Spirit Week, Elias Neibart ’16, stated, “I personally don’t like having major assessments or midterms so close to Spirit Week because it just creates more craziness in the lives of students that are already cluttered with school work, sports and clubs.”

“It’s really hard to meet with teachers because of all the activities going on. I may really need help with a subject but I may also really want to see what’s happening with my grade in Spirit Week,” Michael Connolly ’17 added. Struggles like these illustrate the hardships one may have to stay self-disciplined and spirited at the same time.

While teachers empathize with students, they know a student’s primary job is to do his/her schoolwork. Spirit Week is a fun time for students but does not put to the side the responsibilities of a student or even a teacher. While some at The Academy believe it is cruel to give so many assignments during Spirit Week, it is in the best interest of the students for a teacher to assign one last assessment before the midterms are sent out. This way students have a chance to get their grades up before their parents see them.

Spirit Week was not created to take away the amount of assignments or alter a student’s workload. It was created to unite the school with spirit by having a week of competition and has been carried out as a tradition, as Homecoming Day follows it on a Saturday annually. Spirit Week has been present at Newark Academy for many years and will stay around as long as work and competitions are completed respectfully. The administration loves Spirit Week as much as the students do but strongly believe the necessities, including assignments and tests, need to be top priority for students before any other exciting events can take place.

In addition, Spirit Week actually benefits the student body by running parallel with midterms because it creates an outlet of relief for students’ stress. It is impressive that while a myriad of assessments have students cramming, they can still break away from their studies and enjoy time with their grade members. Our school stands out because of the unity we have at times of stress and intense workloads.

Although Spirit Week and Homecoming weekend are during the most exciting week of the school year, they are also during one of the more stressful weeks filled with work and many obstacles that get in the way of a student’s focus. However, teachers and kids are both fully aware of the challenges that the correlation of Sprit Week and midterm comments brings and both work extremely hard to make the best possible result in students’ midterm comments. Spirit Week and Homecoming provide a relief of stress after all the arduous work students complete right before the midterm mark.