On a regular basis, Principal John Clements reminds the student body that BHS is the finest school in Leon County. School pride and spirit is so important to him that he designed pep rallies to meet COVID restrictions; it was important to him, he said, to give the students something to look forward to this year.

“COVID has taken so much from these students already,” Clements said. “It is important that we give them back some of what they have lost.”

The format of the new pep rallies is really different: the volleyball and football teams socially distance themselves in the stand to watch performances by the Belles, band, and cheer, with other students watching the pep rally via livestream on the Bison Beat Facebook page. Then, everyone heads to the halls to battle for class spirit sticks. Everything is spaced out and takes a bit of time, but so far, everyone is loving the events on home-game weeks.

“I really like telling our volleyball girls and football boys just how much we support them,” Clements said. “That’s the whole reason we do this, because we want to show just how much spirit and love we can show our teams.”

Three spirit sticks are up for grabs each week: one for best chant, one for best poster, and one that changes with each pep rally. The class with the most spirit sticks at the end of the season will get a trip to Corsicana for a movie and pizza later this school year.

“When Mr. Clements suggested this format, I really had my doubts that it would work,” teacher Melonie Menefee said. “I wasn’t sure the kids would go for it. I have never been so glad to be wrong. These pep rallies have taken off and taken over – and the kids are absolutely loving it. I hope they keep this level of spirit up for everything, all year long.”