October - Giles High School

Ms. Matlock decorated her own door to spread
the Spartan cheer.
Decking the
Halls of Giles
High
by Janie Milliron
It was a warm summer
evening when Ms. Whitney
Matlock realized that the
halls of Giles High were
inexcusably bland. There
were dull lockers with
boring bricks in between
them and every few yards
there might have been a
motivational poster, but
nothing exciting. How were
these monotonous halls
suppose to inspire Spartan
spirit in the students? There
was nothing in the hall that
could light a fire in the students and it seemed as if they were doomed to another
boring school year.
The doors in the history wing celebrate the
The idea of the same halls and the same lack of spirit did not sit well with Ms.
football team.
Matlock. She was ready for a change. As head of the pep club Ms. Matlock took the
initiative and came up with the idea of decorating the classroom doors. Each wing of the school was assigned a different sport to
celebrate. The math wing celebrates the golf team, the English wing makes homage to the cross-country team, the science wing
commemorates the volleyball teams, and the history wing uses their doors to pump up the football spirit. This plan, however, did not
get off the ground without a hitch. Every door was supposed to be decked in a large piece of either red or blue paper furnished by the
school. Some students were appointed by teachers to decorate the doors. It took a long time for the doors to get decorated, but when
the decorating was finally completed the halls came alive with the fighting spirit of the ancient Spartans. Despite these problems, the
halls of Giles High have been looking a lot peppier. During each spirit week this year, there was a definite increase in the students
participating. Students who normally do not care about school spirit enjoyed sporting their cowboys hats on western day and dressing
in out-dated clothing for decade day. Ms. Matlock’s Spartan spirit seems to be as contagious as the swine flu. The question now
seems to be, what will happen to the doors and the spirit when fall sports have ended and the trophies are all stored away? Then it will
be time to celebrate the winter sports! The students of Giles High do not stop being Spartans just because football has ended. Just like
the steadfast spirit of the Spartans of old, a little cold weather will not prevent the Giles High Spartans from cheering on their fellow
fighters. The door decorations will stand strong and never waver.
The doors in the science hall are all
about Volleyball.
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