Middle Gate Elementary School students and staff went all out at the SOARS pep rally on Friday, September 19.

The sunny warm weather made it the perfect day for everyone to come together and celebrate their school. As students in every grade went to the school’s courtyard, Middle Gate staff excitedly greeted them by waving red and silver pom-poms.

Students were asked to wear their spirit wear or school colors, so dozens of them rocked red shirts for the special occasion.

The kids were all smiles before the pep rally even started. Some sang the Middle Gate school song, “The Place for You and Me” as they waited. Others tried to catch streams of bubbles floating through the air, which came from two bubble machines at different ends of the courtyard.

Everyone quieted down when Middle Gate Principal Jenna Connors took the mic and welcomed everyone to the SOARS Pep Rally.

She said SOARS is the school’s motto and represents the expected attributes of students and staff. It stands for: Spread kindness, Own your actions, Act responsibly, Respect others, and Show self-control.

Connors shared she could not be more excited to celebrate what makes Middle Gate a safe and happy place to learn with her students and staff.

To that end, she said the motto sets behavioral expectations that contribute to a safe school environment.

After Middle Gate music teacher Tina Jones led students in singing the school song, Connors had each grade level take turns in reminding everyone what the letters in SOARS stands for.

This is especially important, Connors said, because they all practice SOARS every day.

Middle Gate School Counselor Melissa Arsenault took the floor and introduced SOARS Squads — special groups made up of students from kindergarten through fourth grade, each led by two staff squad leaders.

According to Connors, these groups will meet throughout the year to enjoy fun activities and make connections across grade levels, helping students get to know new friends.

The rally ended with a big dance party and everybody chanting, “We are Eagles, we soar high!”

If students were not already smiling from being outside and catching bubbles, then seeing Sully, their school mascot, certainly put a smile on their face.

Middle Gate fourth grade teacher John Sullivan raced around as Sully the Eagle. This is far from the first time Sullivan has donned the costume, as he has dressed up as Sully the Eagle in other pep rallies.

He gave students high-fives as he “flew” around, with everyone following him off the playground to end the pep rally.

The event made the perfect bookend to the school week — students did not have school on September 23 for Rosh Hashanah or on September 22 due to it being a staff professional development day.

Connors put it best in her recent weekly newsletter to parents: “It was an exciting, unifying celebration that left our whole school community feeling connected and ready to SOAR.”

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.