What goes into creating the energy, excitement, and school spirit packed within Northside Pep Rallies? While students see the music, cheering, and packed gym, few see the planning, leadership, and teamwork that happens behind the scenes. From scheduling meetings, to coordinating with administrators, Pep Club works tirelessly to bring the school spirit and the Northside community together.

At the center of this work are Pep Club presidents, Jacky Bu and Sadia Hussain, who lead the planning and execution of each Pep Rally along with their vice presidents and the rest of Pep Club. Together, they oversee meeting

“As one of the co-presidents of the club, I just make sure we’re staying on schedule by planning out meetings and making sure that we have a set schedule for the Rep Rally,” Bu said.

Once a date is set, planning begins immediately. “It takes a second to find the date of when the actual Pep Rally is going to be, but once we do get that date, it’s immediate planning after that.” Hussain said.    

The process relies heavily on the members of their club to get work done. Bu says,  “Every single board member has a role, whether that may be taking notes during the meeting, making social media posts, or sending out emails.” Hussain added that the club frequently brainstorms together, using whiteboards and shared documents to map out ideas that will engage both the students and the staff.. After the schedule is created, it must be approved by the administration before the club can move forward.

Communication across the school is one of the most demanding parts of organizing a Pep Rally. Bu describes coordinating the sports parade as being the most challenging part. He  is in charge of sending out emails to the individual captains and making sure everyone  has all the necessary information.

Another challenge is creating an event that appeals to the diverse student body. “It’s just hard in general to find something that would engage all students all at once,” Hussain says. With such diverse  demands, Pep Club leaders must consider different interests and trends when planning.

Despite these challenges, both Hussain and Bu agree that Pep Rallies play a vital role in the Northside community. “I believe that the Pep Rally is one out of a few events where the student body actually comes together as a whole to celebrate something,” says Bu. He added that pep rallies help students actively participate and connect with a sense of community. Hussain also emphasized the importance of student engagement saying,“That’s the most student engagement we get every year. That’s the goal, we want our students involved and getting to know other people.”

While students on the sideline only see the final product, Pep Rallies undergo hours of preparation, problem-solving, and collaboration. “The thought and time that goes into these Pep Rallies often goes unnoticed, ” Bu said, “In the end, Northside Pep Rallies are more than just a loud gym and school spirit, they are the result of strong student leadership, teamwork, and a shared commitment to bringing the school together, as students across different grades, clubs, and teams work behind the scenes to plan activities, organize performances, and coordinate logistics to make the event successful. 

Beyond the noise and excitement, Pep Rallies allow students a break from academics and create moments of connection and pride that help strengthen the school community, leaving an impact even after the chants fade and students return to class, and this is all thanks to all the hard work Pep Club puts in to make sure that ever Pep Rally is possible.

Pep Club Board Members & Roles: 

Club Sponsor: Mr. Jason Curry

Presidents: Sadia Hussain & Jacky Bu

Vice Presidents: Shayla Le & Dax Weitekamper 

Secretary: Leonel Villanueva

Public Relations: Meli Ho