In an effort to herald Fair Haven schools’ upcoming spring sports and activities and honor the accomplishments of fall and winter teams and clubs, pep rallies cheered them on at Knollwood School recently.

Students in sixth through eighth grades participated in an afternoon rally on March 24, while a separate rally was held in the morning for fourth and fifth graders.

The afternoon pep rally featured two free-throw contests as well as a pie-in-the-face event that bestowed the “honor” on one “lucky” teacher.

Fall and winter sports recognized were:

• Girls’ Cross Country, first place in the Meet of Champions;
• Boys’ Cross Country, undefeated division champions with a 7-0 record;
• Girls’ Soccer;
• Boys’ Soccer, first in its league and undefeated with a record of 7-0-1;
• Field Hockey, league co-champions with a 4-4-2 record;
• Girls’ Basketball; Boys’ Basketball.

Fall clubs recognized were Chess Club, Running Club, Student Council, Peer Leaders, Multi-Media Club, Glee Club, The Homework/Peer Club, 8th Grade Yearbook Editors, and “Girl Up” Club.

Also acknowledged were the winter clubs: The Knollwood Voice, Make a Difference Club, Spanish Club, Science Club, Knights Club, Stock Market Club, and Sixth-, Seventh-, and Eighth-Grade Performing Arts Troupe.

Upcoming spring sports are: softball, baseball, and the new boys’ and girls’ track teams. The upcoming spring club is the Tennis Club.

The first Shootout Contest featured students who collected the most items during the recent Souperbowl Food Drive: sixth grader PJ Rawlins, seventh grader Cortland McBarron, and eighth grader Jacob Gerbman.

The winner delivered a pie in the face to sixth grade Math teacher Bill Dodich, whose Teacher Jar had earned the most in charitable lunchtime donations from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. $107.00 was raised for the Hope Loves Company, a charity that benefits children with ALS, through the lunchtime fundraiser.

Sixth grade math teacher Bill Dodich, seventh grade literacy Teacher Leeann Lanza, and eighth grade social studies teacher Christopher Stephan volunteered for the second basketball shootout, featuring teachers versus students.

Superintendent Nelson Ribon, who will be leaving the district, was acknowledged as well. Ribon was gifted with a custom-made Knollwood School basketball as thanks for reviving the tradition of the pep rally and his years of service to the school district.

The afternoon pep rally was organized by Knollwood School Student Council Advisors Alison Dooley and Cara Remmert, Physical Education and Health Teacher Kimberly Lagrotteria, and by the Student Council.

A rally for fourth- and fifth-grade students was also held the morning of March 24th. All fourth- and fifth-grade clubs were recognized as were winners of the Souper Bowl food drive: fourth grader Griffin Kolb; and fifth graders Anna Becker and Janey Speck, who participated in a basketball shootout against fourth grade teacher Bob Talmage and fifth grade teacher Courtney Donovan. After a long battle with Talmage that included overtime, Janey Sypeck was declared the winner and received a gift card.

Fifth grade student leaders helped to plan and organize the pep rally for fourth and fifth graders.

— Edited press release from Fair Haven School District