Battle of the Classes

Nine years ago on a cold day in November, my pa picked me up from my second grade class to bring me to the East Providence High School pep rally. As an excited 7 year-old, I dressed up in my dad’s old EP High hockey jersey which fell to my knees, and threw my hair up in little pigtails with red bows to demonstrate my early efforts of Townie pride. Unfortunately, I was prohibited to go inside because of safety reasons, so instead my father described the scene to me. He watched the band with their drums and tubas, swinging their instruments to the beat of the music. Then there were the cheerleaders in their cute little uniforms, and pompoms who would throw each other 30 feet in the air as they shouted... “Go EP!” (I couldn’t wait to be one of them). My father explained that the football players would jump and chant in their huddles, but the crowd was the best part. The bleachers thundered as the students jumped and I listened to my dad with such intensity as I came to the revelation: I could not wait to be a Townie!

This past Monday, November 25th, East Providence High School students gathered in the gym to take part in a “battle”, that would officially prove Townie Pride had survived over one hundred years. The Battle of the Classes was originated by the class committee advisors. “We tried for a couple of years to make it happen, we just finally had all the advisors on board. And all advisors came together to plan it all and see it through”, says Alexandra Robat, an art teacher and junior class committee advisor at the high school. She also mentioned the help of her colleagues and fellow committee advisors, Mrs. Moretti, Mr. Chapman, Miss. Barry, Ms. Couti, Mr. Branch, Mrs. Pallotti, and Mrs. Duarte. No one could contain their excitement as groups of students from each class decorated their own set of bleachers with their class colors, signs, and noise makers. The freshmen, dressed in black faced the sophomores dressed in grey, who battled the juniors, dressed in white. But the obvious champions of the night were the victorious seniors who wore red.

Some of the competitions which formulated the battle included a boys’ and girls’ tug of war, a wheelbarrow and three-legged race, a hoola hoop contest, and a dance battle. Each contest was judged and awarded points according to the place in which each class finished.

The dance battle, was the only competition awarded first place to the juniors.

One of the dancers, Yuliandra Henriquez expressed her appreciation to a former student at EP high. “We had a choreographer, Sabrina Yachkouri, who now goes to Jacqueline M. Walsh School of Performing Arts, but used to go to EP. She was so dedicated to us. We couldn’t be more thankful. She cut time out of her own dance classes to help us out”.

The seniors took home the winning title in the majority of the contests, including the tug of war. “Because we are seniors, we have been experiencing Townie pride for 4 years now, and we as a class embody the spirit we need to win this battle,” said senior Tess Jones, a contributor to the girls tug of war contest.

But perhaps the funniest competition to watch was the hoola hoop contest. “I’m very good with my hips,” joked senior Brandon Rebollo.

At the end of the night, Mr. Chapman announced the winners of the battle. The seniors brought it home in 1st place, followed by the sophomores in 2nd, the Juniors in 3rd, and 4th place was awarded to the Freshmen. A hush fell over the crowd as each class waited in anticipation for Mr. Chapman to announce the first place winners. When he did, the seniors stormed the court and made a rally-run around the gym.Throughout the night, the classes good naturedly cheered against their competition, but smiled and laughed as the deserving seniors soaked up their glory. And as I stood there, watching our victorious senior class celebrate their win, I wondered if it felt like this, nine years ago, for the students who stood in my place. I was proud. Proud to be a part of this community. Proud to have the privilege to go to school with my wonderful classmates. I am proud to be a Townie. And although I was watching a different group of students celebrate a different Townie event, one thing hasn’t changed, and I’m a firm believer that it never will. Townie Pride will live on forever!

-Casey Traverse

(11th grade, East Providence High School)