A high school tradition, an annual rite of passage, and a week of spirit-driven festivities, Spirit Week is a great way for students to show their school spirit, their true personalities, and their varying creative skills. From Freshmen to Seniors, hall to hall, students participated in various events.

The week kicked off with a wave of USA spirit: ‘Merica  Monday. Students and teachers alike dressed up in patriotic attire: American flag pants, red tutus, “Make America Great Again” hats, and patriotic face paint made the building a sea of red, white and blue. 

Twin Day followed, typically held on Tuesdays of Spirit Weeks past. Students rock their versions of “twin” costumes. This twin day had an unexpected twist; when Robert Tierney woke up this particular Tuesday, October 24th, he did not know this day would be unlike any other day in his life. His morning routine was usual. His drive to work was 

monotonous. Even as he walked through the school doors, he anticipated a typical day. Little did he know that an army was waiting for him within the school walls: a Tierney army, part of Terryville High School’s annual Spirit Week, as The Tierneys were the highlight of this day. This menagerie included multiple versions of Tierney’s such as Jacob Collette, who dressed up as “Sleepy Tierney”; Cayleb LeClerc as “Mrs. Tierney”; Gia Monteleone as “Soundcloud Tierney”; Jamison Kulesa was “Type 2 Tierney”; Jacob Zappone was “Referee Tierney”; Kassie McCarthy was “Soccer Mom Tierney”; Evan Coviello was “Farmer Tierney”; Conor Garrity as “Christmas Tierney”; Mr. Joe Faitak as “Prison Tierney”; and many more.

Tierney wasn’t the only teacher who received an homage, as McKenzie Robinson-Lawrence, Ashley Yokubinas, and Julia Langeway, all dressed to impress as Mr. Foulds; Khaki shorts, dry-fit tees, and lanyards for days. Other awesome twin costumes included Sean O’Donnell and Albert Molina dressed up as famous baseball players JD Martinez and David Price. The senior trio of Stephanie Poulin, Lindsey Hotchkiss, and Bella Christiana executed the Cheetah Girls with perfection.

More than a third of the school showed their school spirit on Wednesday, Character Day. A cohort of costumes from all kinds of characters represented and many featured in the character parade that showcased the people who dressed up. The leader of the parade was Mrs. Dinnan, who dressed up as Joy from Inside Out. Another teacher who appeared in costume, Mrs. Avcollie modeled an incognito Superman, representing as Clark Kent. Students excelled in originality and creativity this year. Highlights included a noteworthy pair of characters; Lilyana Ricardo as Hamilton and Karissa Hart as Lafayette from the play Hamilton. This was exceptional because they designed and made their own costumes by hand. Remarkable work, girls! In addition, we had several visitors from the One Hundred Acre Wood: Stephanie Poulin as Winnie the Pooh, Jordan Pilbin as Eeyore, Nicole Tessman as Roo, Lindsey Hotchkiss as Tiger, and Bella Christiana as Piglet all represented a collection of Christopher Robin’s best friends; in another group, Kelly Poulin as Pooh, Olivia Gilbert as Eeyore, Kassie McCarthy as Roo, Reilly Stager as Tiger and Brianna Candrea as Piglet; and finally, Alyssa Thibodeau as Pooh and Erin Thompson as Eeyore. Winning the most creatively accurate portrayal costume, though, and channeling her inner Español, was Isabella Greene, dressing like the one and only Frida Kahlo.

Although Tropical Thursday was not the most popular day of the week, the students who did dress up showed a lot of school spirit. Students dressed up as their ideas of tourists and people on vacation in tropical places. Some even braved the cold with shorts, skirts, tank tops, and sandals!

Friday arrived with the last themed day of Color Wars, and the ultimate celebration, the pep rally. Students in each grade dressed up in a different color to illustrate their school spirit repping their class spirit: Freshman dressed in white, Sophomores in gray, Juniors in THS’s orange, and Seniors in their ocean of black. There was no official winner, but each class would claim themselves as champions. Each represented themselves with cheers and chants at the pep rally held the last hour of the day. In addition to this, there was a very humorous joke war amongst competitors Mr. Hults, Mr. Maslak, Mrs. Avcollie, and Mr. Nave, with Nave declared the reigning champion of “dad jokes;” the drum line played some sick beats, and there was a dodgeball tournament that the Seniors won overall. Another shining moment of the pep rally was Mr. Veleas dressed up as Miley Cyrus who danced with the Powder Puff team. Overall, Spirit Week was a huge success. All the students had a great time and are all excited for next year’s week of costumes and fun. Even Mr. Tierney.

Written by Olivia Gilbert, Justin Ethier, and Kelly Poulin