On September 11-12, ASG hosted its first rally of the school year: the Hello Rally. Held annually in the gym during flex, Hello Rally welcomes students to the new school year with an introduction to Irvington’s school spirit.
The rally contained multiple events showcasing what Irvington has to offer to new students, along with returning ones, including teachers battling in lip-syncs, sports teams dodging and scrambling to collect cones, and dancers showcasing their hip-hop routines. While all acts were supported and enjoyed by students, the hamster ball act was a clear favorite for those at the rally, where two students in a plastic bubble tackled each other to the ground. Nikki Huang (10), an attendee of the rally, expressed how it was “very entertaining to watch” and “unlike anything she had seen at prior school events.”
Compared to last year, the Hello Rally had clearly improved with the engagement of students. Events such as the chants and teacher lip-sync showcased the enthusiasm of the student body, with students cheering and clapping loudly throughout the rally. Rithik Bhat (12) and Lawrence Jia (12) hyped up the participation of the crowd tremendously, with students at the rally noting how the “hype, confidence, and the presentation of the introduction of the Rally Commissioners was [their] favorite part.” ASG member Yashu Tubati (9) explained the preparation leading up to the event and Rithik’s and Lawrence’s vision for this year, along with how they executed it. “They practiced their introduction timed with the video and chants multiple times in class, and it was obvious during the rally that the practice paid off,” exclaimed Tubati (9).
“It’s really cool to see the behind the scenes of rallies pay off, watching it go from a brainstorm to the full project is inspiring,” added Tubati (9).
ASG rally committee members played a big role in the success of the rally. “Rally members have to first put our brains in a creative place,” said technology lead Sahil Shah (10). “We need to be able to plan introductions, and come up with fun and engaging games. Most times, especially before the rally, we have to stay up on late-night calls discussing logistics.” Thanks to dedication from ASG members like Shah, the rally was successful and entertaining for Irvington students.
With the success of ASG’s first rally of the year, many are excited to see what the future holds. For freshmen, this serves as the beginning of their Irvington experience, introducing them to Irvington’s school spirit and traditions. Tubati (9), expressed, “I want to see freshmen get more comfortable with rallies and be loud. I’m excited to see what ideas the rally commissioners come up with.”
The Hello Rally marks the beginning of the 24-25 school year, and as Irvington students continue to attend such events, ASG looks forward to their success in the future.
