It took senior Leo Whittaker until third period to realize that all his teachers were wearing matching outfits last Monday. And he was not alone. The image was disorienting for some, leading some to believe tragedy had struck.
“I thought they were going to a funeral,” Whittaker said.
Fortunately, the truth was far less tragic. Faculty throughout Davie High held a ‘secret spirit week’ where they all dressed in a theme without telling their students what was going on. While this spirit week wasn’t quite a secret, the themes were.
MONDAY: NINJA DAY
Some students who were aware of the Secret Spirit week thought the theme was Emo/Punk, while others who weren’t aware suspected that someone had passed away.
“I had a small handful of students during 3rd and 4th period that started to notice and ask things,” said CTE teacher Kerstin Steinour. “Why are all of y’all wearing black? and “Did someone die?”
This is where the hunt to figure out what was going on and why all the teachers were matching began.
TUESDAY: UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER
For Tuesday’s theme, teachers went out of their way to find the ugliest sweaters they could get their hands on for ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.’ While wearing Christmas attire shortly after Halloween isn’t uncommon, the mass amounts of sweaters two days before said holiday made students question why the teachers were so festive all of a sudden. Staff like English Teacher Kasi Pond, wouldn’t budge on unwrapping their secrets.
“I said, ‘I’m dressed up for Halloween,’” Pond said. “I’m a person who cares about Christmas before November 15.”
WEDNESDAY: ANYTHING BUT A WATER BOTTLE/SOCKS WITH SANDALS
On Wednesday, teachers were seen drinking out of a variety of “Anythings,” from shoes to full-size coffee containers. Safe to say, these teachers were not thirsty on “Anything but a Water Bottle Day.” The same cannot be said for the teachers who took the other option.
Faculty also had the choice to stay dry and pull an odd fashion combination as many were seen wearing socks and sandals with their everyday outfits. A choice that sure kept them dry on ‘Sandals and Socks Day’!
Some students noticed teachers with their funky water bottles. Suspicion grew more and more as each day and each theme passed.
THURSDAY: HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
Thursday, October 31. A day everyone knows: Halloween! Teachers around the school were dressed for the occasion as they all showed up in their Halloween costumes. They certainly came dressed to impress on “Halloween Costumes Day!” While this theme wasn’t as noticeable as others, students were still pressured to know the details of what was going on, but teachers still wouldn’t crack.
“Half the fun was messing with them,” Pond said.
Steinour and Brittany Steger created the themes for Teacher Spirit Week. They got the idea from various TikToks they saw from other schools.
“I think my favorite one was the first day,” said Steinour. “It wasn’t so much about the theme, but watching and waiting to see if students caught on.”
From the mysterious funeral outfits to the Christmas-y Halloween costume, both faculty and students enjoyed their week of Halloween as they had some undercover fun.
“It was a great, easy way to boost morale and have fun at the same time,” said Steinour.
