Hawthorne High School has had over 90 years worth of school traditions. Throughout the decades, our high school traditions have advanced and blossomed in so many beautiful ways. Traditions are essential for students to make core memories throughout their teenage years. To honor these 92 years worth of traditions, I have interviewed some of the most spectacular teachers at Hawthorne High School to share the evolution they have witnessed at HHS.
First stop, I interviewed Hawthorne’s beloved, English/Journalism Teacher, Mr. Vanwinkle. When asked about how he has witnessed the evolution of traditions at Hawthorne High School, he stated, “A tradition that I have witnessed change throughout the years is the Month of June and the way it relates to our senior class.”
Mr. Van Winkle went on to explain, “As a teacher of mainly seniors, I really like how when June comes around, our senior class has so many activities. Prom, senior trip, graduation and so forth. This is their last hurrah so to speak at HHS, and I am glad that they have so many things to keep them interested and occupied.”
I made sure to stop by HHS’s fan favorite teacher, Mr Harty. I asked Mr. Harty about his time spent here at Hawthorne and how he witnessed the traditions at our high school evolve. Mr. Harty voiced, “ I have seen HHS traditions evolve in various ways over my first four years at Hawthorne Public Schools. One major tradition I have seen evolve and change has been the inclusion of more pep rallies.”
Mr. Harty added, “When I first started at HHS the school was still unable to hold large gatherings due to Covid restrictions. The absence of the pep rallies was something I felt almost immediately. I can’t speak for the past of HHS before I came here however, when I was in High School I loved the experience of attending each seasonal pep rally throughout the year. These pep rallies do a great job of spreading and fermenting school spirit.”
“Since the reintroduction of pep rallies at HHS, school spirit and student engagement has seemed to increase. My hope is that in the future we can have more seasonal pep rallies to help boost student engagement at different community events while simultaneously helping to foster more community involvement.”
When Mr. Kabrel, from our school’s History department was asked about how he has witnessed the evolution of HHS traditions, he explained, “ Over the years, I feel like I have seen many different traditions. While some classic traditions like hallway decorating, have remained the same fun experience for students, there have been some great new additions.”
Mr. Kabrel went on to reveal one of his new favorite traditions at HHS. “The pep rallies have new elements that add to the energy and school spirit. One tradition that stands out in recent years is the chant led by Kevin Mantel – where he yells ‘We are!’ and the students respond ‘Hawthorne!’ It brings everyone together and creates a powerful sense of unity.”
He recalled the evolution of Hawthorne High School’s Homecoming, to which he said, “Homecoming, too, has evolved over time, but I have to give credit to Ms. Russo, who has consistently done an amazing job of keeping it fresh and fun for students. Ms. Russo always maintains the core excitement that makes Homecoming Special.”
Speaking of Ms. Russo, I stopped by the art department to interview the Hawthorne High School Queen herself. Ms. Russo is our school’s Student Activities Coordinator. She is responsible for organizing all of the fun festivities at HHS, and making sure everyone has the best high school experience possible. Her dedication to the school is enormously valued, and deeply admired.
I asked Ms. Russo how she has witnessed evolution in HHS’s traditions overtime, to which she answered, “ Over the years, traditions at our school have definitely evolved, largely due to shifts in student culture and the rise of digital technology.” Ms. Russo further explained, “Post-pandemic, we’ve seen a noticeable change in how students engage with school events. In the past, things like homecoming, talent shows, pep rallies, and spirit weeks saw a lot of spontaneous involvement. Now there seems to be less interest in connecting to school-wide events, and it’s harder to get students excited about what might be considered “cheesy” traditions.”
Ms. Russo believes that due to so much social life happening online, students in this generation are more accustomed to controlling their experiences, along with interacting digitally. This new age of technology has made in- person traditions feel less captivating for students. Ms. Russo recalls many events Hawthorne High Schools’ Student Council has organized to try and help keep Hawthornes traditions alive.
“Student Council has been trying to keep traditions alive in new and creative ways,” Ms. Russo said. “For example, in 2021, we brought back the Bonfire – an old tradition that has been missing since the ‘90s.”
Ms. Russo had expressed her ambition of using technology today to help re-event such traditions. “At the same time, we’ve been trying to rethink what these events could look like in today’s world. For example, we’ve used social media to build anticipation and encourage participation. Things like polls, countdowns, and challenges have helped boost student involvement in spirit weeks and other activities.”
“As the Student Activities Coordinator, it’s definitely been a challenge to get students to embrace some of the older traditions, but my goal has always been to keep them alive, even if only a small group gets involved. Whether it’s 10 students or 100 students, I won’t let go of these traditions, they’re a huge part of what makes our school unique and brings us all together. The thing I have loved about this place for the 24 years I have been here is its close knit family feel.” Ms. Russo explained. “And it’s important to stay true to that no matter what.”
As you can see, Hawthorne High School holds timeless traditions that are fun for the entire school! It is a privilege to be a part of a school that cares so much about their student body, and focuses on providing their students with the best high school experience possible.