Congé
A day of celebration for the entire school with activities and lunch centered around a theme. The day is planned by the high school. It includes a liturgy, games, and a skit performed by the senior class.
Rally Night
In the spirit of class unification, each class is given a name: clowns, cowboys, patriots, or stars, which they carry with them throughout their four years of high school.
In the fall, classes get together to decide on a theme for Rally, including a dance, t-shirts, and decorations. Rally day occurs in September and the four classes compete in dance, pep, volleyball, costume, and decorations. This day provides the classes with a chance to come together and compete in a spirited afternoon.
Upper School Rally Night at Sacred Heart
History
Rally Night has been a Sacred Heart tradition at Sacred Heart since 1970. On October 4, 1984, Rally Night was changed from traditionally being held at night to being held in the afternoon. Rally is a time when all the High school comes together as grades to compete for pep, dance, volleyball, decorations, and costumes. There are four designated symbols the Cowboys, Patriots, Stars, and the Clowns. Each year, the incoming freshmen will receive the symbol of last years' graduated seniors. The symbol received as a freshman will be the class's symbol throughout high school. Each year the grade will choose a song and a theme for rally night. The song and the theme chosen by the grade are traditionally kept a secret. The high school is given time during school to meet and discuss rally. They must vote on a song, theme, a dance committee head, costume committee head and decoration committee head, cheerleader committee head, and volleyball committee head. After all of the committee heads have been chosen, the class is split up to work under the committee of their choice.
Dance Committee
The dance committee's task, is to make up the dance that the class will perform at Rally Night. This is the only committee that is allowed to meet outside of school, in order to make up the dance. The dance is performed by the whole class, and usually consists of several formations. The dance committee is in charge of teaching the rest of the class the dance at the time allowed.
Costume Committee
The costume committee is usually in charge of designing the tee-shirt, but usually one person will come up with the design. The other job of the costume committee is to figure out what accessories the class will wear.
Decoration Committee
The job of the Decorations Committee is to come up with the Decorations. They will design the backdrop, the bleacher decorations and any side decorations. Sometimes the decoration committee is in charge of the shakers, but usually it is the cheerleaders' job.
Requirements/Rules
There are certain requirements/rules that need to be followed so that Rally Night can be performed and so that we do not get disqualified.
- We are given a certain amount of money, and we can not go over it.
- We are not allowed to practice our dance outside of school unless given permission by the Dean of Students.
- We can not make any Rally decorations before the day of Rally. We are given a certain amount of time to do decorations the day of Rally before Rally begins, except for spray painting noise makers, which can be made outside of school prior to Rally.
- We must have the name of the class symbol on the Shirt Decoration.
Judging
Each year a committee of 5 judges are chosen by the Student Council to judge Rally. They judge decorations, costumes, pep, volleyball, and dance. The class winner of each catagory is recognized on a plaque, and the class with the highest number of points receives the spirit award and is recognized on a banner.
MC's
Rally is hosted by two juniors chosen by student council. They are known as the "MC's". They open Rally with an entertaining skit.
Service Projects
Sr. Rita Karam, RSCJ wrote,
"There is a basic conviction that the Gospel challenges us with a mandate, rather than an option, to serve one another. The words of the Lord are very strong. 'You address me as a 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and fittingly enough, for that is what I am. But if I wash your feet--I who am Teacher and Lord--then you must wash each other's feet. What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do.' (John 13: 13-15)"
Community outreach is an integral part of a Sacred Heart education. Goal three of the Goals of Sacred Heart Education is a social awareness which impels to action.
In keeping with this focus, Juniors perform fifty service hours. They choose a location where they have direct contact with disadvantaged individuals. Some work in nursing homes, Head Start programs, or hospitals. Others volunteer during the summer in Nicaragua, a camp for children with cancer, or service programs with Sacred Heart students from all over the country. Other examples include assisting with therapeutic riding or working at the Light House for the Blind.
In addition, each Upper School student participates in a community outreach activity each year. Most choose to participate in more than one. A few opportunities are offered each month. Students visit residents in nursing home, assist at a homeless shelter, volunteer in a Head Start program and help build a home with Habitat for Humanity. Some students meet regularly with their Buddy from St. Michael's Special School.
The Upper School also has several drives and fund-raisers to help the disadvantaged.
Other Class Activities:
- Fundraising
- Retreats
- Spirit Teams
- Junior/Senior Prom
- Ring Mass and Dance
