On Friday, September 27, 2024, Sierra Vista High School joined over 116,000 educators worldwide in the annual ‘Rock Your School’ day hosted by Get Your Teach On as part of its Homecoming festivities. Get Your Teach On is a global initiative, now in its sixth year, that seeks to encourage teachers and schools to break the routine by creating a fun, engaging educational experience for students. Over 3,000,000 students participated this year, adding to the growing community of educators and learners celebrating creativity and connection.
This is the second year Assistant Principal Ms. Galloway partnered with Get Your Teach On to coordinate school-wide events. The “Rock Your School” theme invited the entire Sierra Vista family to “rock” their favorite artist or musical genre, with teachers handing out inflatable rock-themed items—guitars, drums, microphones, and funky glasses—to rock star students throughout the day. During arrival, band students Preston Ross, Braedon Trost, Teage Richins, and Chris Starr performed classics like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and “Santeria” by Sublime in the main quad. At lunch, students enjoyed a pick of entertainment. The back quad hosted a live performance from local band 15 South, which drew a large crowd. In the main quad, DJ Paradice, a local DJ (Algebra I teacher Mrs. Hunter’s husband) spun popular hits while the school’s dance team, Synergy, amped up the performance. The excitement did not stop there—Kaya Holland (11) from SV Beats kept the vibe alive in the lunchroom and the Karaoke Klub set up near the gym for those wanting to take center stage. In the classrooms, teachers planned engagement in class community-building activities to keep the school-wide goal this year.
Ms. Galloway reflects on ‘Rock Your School’ day, “I thought it was excellent. We had a lot of teacher and staff participation. I think adding in the musical guests provided a bigger platform. I was really happy that we had people donate their time, 15 South and DJ Paradice. The fact they donated their time, it didn’t cost us a lot of money, and I think we were able to accomplish the goals of increasing student engagement, which is what the day is all about.” The day wrapped up with a Homecoming assembly at 12:25 pm, bringing everyone together to celebrate the spirit of the week. The celebration attracted the attention of News Channel 3, which showcased the electric atmosphere on campus. From start to finish, ‘Rock Your School’ aimed to increase student engagement, building school community, and just having fun with students and staff.
