Students aim to re-ignite school spirit

KELLOGG — Students at Kellogg High School are busy at work trying to rebuild a majorly fading aspect of being a high school student.

School spirit.

Not just at the school level either, they want to see Purple and Gold pride at the community level too.

Kids in KHS’s Leadership class are preparing for their annual homecoming spirit week and after hearing stories from their peers and parents about how things used to be, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

“We decided that we wanted to do a restoration project on community spirit,” said KHS student Cierra Brandt. “We know that there are some people who do participate in all of our events and activities, but there are also a big group of people who don’t. Either because they don’t know what’s going on or they don’t feel like they have the opportunity to do so.”

The Leadership students are making it their goal to create those opportunities for the community.

Part of this project has been getting their classmates engaged and involved, something that has been evident at their football and volleyball games.

“Our crowds have been excellent this year for our games,” said Brandt, also a volleyball player.

The gymnasium at Kellogg High School also underwent a facelift thanks to the hard work of Chloe Wilbur — also a leadership student and volleyball player.

“The mural turned out great and really adds to our gym,” Wilbur said. “We wanted people to see it and feel proud for being Kellogg Wildcats and I think it’s working.”

For the students it has been a nice change to feel so much school pride and energy inside the gym, but they want it to spread throughout the community.

Several businesses have already bought “Wildcat Country” signs or have decorated their storefronts with purple and gold, but the students want to encourage everyone to get involved.

“We love seeing the businesses support us and it really makes us feel like a tighter knit community,” Brandt said. "We always hear stories from the older people who went to Kellogg and they talk about all of the things they did and that the community did when they were in school. We want to try to get back to that."

The Leadership class is selling the signs for folks to display, but they are also willing to come and paint custom signs and decorate for businesses if they want to participate, but feel like they don’t have time.

“We would love to come and help you show your Wildcat spirit,” Wilbur said. “All you need to do is call the school and ask us.”

Much of the effort and leg work for the students and their participation in these types of events has fallen on the shoulders of leadership teacher Kelton Enich, whom the students have described as invaluable to the cause.

“Ms. Enich is so great, she’s a rockstar,” Brandt said. “We wouldn’t be able to do most of the stuff that we do without her. She has so much Kellogg High School pride for someone who isn’t even from here.”

Brandt is also working on a special project and would like the Kellogg School District community to submit any photos they may have from any homecomings passed.

Photos can be emailed to her at k20cbrandt@kelloggwildcats.org.

Kellogg High School homecoming week begins next week with the traditional bonfire at Kellogg High School at 7 p.m., and is open to the community.

Kellogg will play their homecoming football game next Thursday night against Priest River at 7 p.m.

For more information as well as an event schedule, follow the Kellogg High School Facebook page or give them a call at 208-784-1371.