Excitement billowed from the sea of green flooding the Dartmouth High gymnasium on October 21. The annual pep rally — featuring cheer routines, students’ skits, and Dartmouth pride — proved to be one of the loudest yet.

Dartmouth High Principal John Gould recognized classes for various achievements: The freshmen had the least amount of tardies;sophomores, the least amount of absences. Juniors were judged to have the best-looking bulletin board, which they had designed, and the seniors won the school spirit category.

“It’s so neat to see the kids so excited to be here and to see them express themselves,” Gould said. “It really reminds me of when I was a kid. We had a tremendous amount of school spirit.”

An overall winner was determined through a “Give a Yell” contest. With sound-measuring equipment standing by, the senior class was named the overall winner for their screams, shrieks, and commotion, and accompanying band members making a clamor.

“It was awesome,” said Gould after the rally. “I was concerned about pacing but it was fine.”

The pep rally topped off a school-wide Spirit Week, which featured daily themed dress-up, including superheroes and villains, hippies, tourists, and Dartmouth pride. A canned goods and book drive was also held during the week, with the seniors raising both the most canned goods and books.

Dartmouth students have every reason to celebrate: every varsity sports team except one has qualified for the postseason. Field hockey was ousted from the postseason after losing to Bridgewater-Raynham on October 25.

Although the pomp and circumstance was supposed to lead the Dartmouth High football team into their homecoming game, which was scheduled for later that night, the game – and the crowning of a Homecoming King and Queen – was ultimately postponed due to the weather.