By Puma Press Reporter Grant D., sophomore, and Editor-in-Chief Carter H, senior

Students line the Pumadome bleachers during an Upper School Assembly. In front of them, drum stands and other instruments are clustered together, manned by members of the Jazz Band, accompanied by Fine Arts Teacher Thane Lewis. They begin to play the school song. This 2008 performance was the last time the lyrics echoed through UPrep.

However, according to Thane, that may change during this year’s theme of school spirit.

According to Roger Bass, former head of school from 1977 to 2002 and a Founder of UPrep, the song was created during a period when UPrep was developing its identity.

“It was created at a time when we were really trying to make school spirit,” Roger said. “We had a few extracurricular activities, but it was nothing like what the school has now.”

In an attempt to increase school spirit during their first year of operation, UPrep held a contest for the school song, in the fall of 1976. A sophomore, Angela Sorby ’82, won. This type of challenge was new to her.

“I was somebody who wrote a lot of poetry,” Angela said. “I wasn’t inclined to write the kind of thing they wanted for the school song.”

However, Angela’s mom made sure that her daughter did not miss the opportunity to enter the contest.

“My mom told me I had to go down to my bedroom and couldn’t come up for dinner until I wrote something for the school song contest,” Angela said.

Writing the school song was a high point of the year for her.

“I was proud after I wrote it,” Angela said.

According to Roger, student interest in singing the song dwindled.

“I think the school is beyond that [the school song],” Roger said. “The kids didn’t like it very much.”

According to Roger, there is still value in UPrep’s alma mater.

“It’s been interesting because when the alumni come back, they still remember it and they will start singing it,” Roger said.

Despite the song’s 26-year absence from campus, Thane is willing to perform it with students in the future. A rise in talented voices could provide a starting point for the reintroduction of the song.

“We are getting bigger choirs and more people are singing,” Thane said. “It would be great now because we have much more of a singing culture, so all we need is someone to play the piano.”

Sophomore Alastair B., who plays the clarinet, is in the current Jazz Band class and was previously unaware that the school song existed.

“I think we should bring it back,” Alastair said. “I would probably be willing to play it.”

Thane has expressed interest in introducing the school song to UPrep sports games.

“Ronnie’s theme of the year is school spirit, so this is the perfect time to do this,” Thane said.

A Q&A WITH THE PUMA PRESS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CARTER H., 12TH GRADE, AND REPORTER GRANT D., 10TH GRADE

How did you come up with this story idea?

Grant: [Journalism Teacher] Scott said, ‘You guys should ask other people about what a good story idea would be. My dad [Kirk Davis ’84] went to UPrep. I thought, who better to ask than a UPrep alum? He mentioned the idea of writing about the school song they had back then, and I agreed with him.

What surprised you while working on this article?

Carter: I didn’t realize that the school song was a real organized, structured thing. They sang the song frequently. I also didn’t realize it had been performed in 2008—not that long ago, since some teachers I know now were here then.

Grant: I thought it was interesting that some alumni really like the song. and they sing it when they return to campus, but the current students don’t like it.

What was difficult about working on this piece?

Carter: We had to figure out how to contact people who aren’t on campus now, like Founder Roger Bass and the alum who wrote the song. It was also difficult to figure how to tell the story in the most real way possible. We didn’t want to make it sound like everyone loved the song.

Grant: Getting it to happen. I pitched the idea in September. I couldn’t do it then because I was just starting out in Journalism [class] and I had to work with someone with more experience. Then, a month later, they [editors] were, like, we don’t know about the school. Then I asked to write about it again and they said [editors] alright. And that was cool; we got to write it.

How did you decide upon a lede?

Carter: We didn’t have a way to make this school song recent, but then [Music Teacher] Mr. Lewis described this moment of performing the song. We tried to make it this grand moment.

What skills are you learning in Journalism classes?

Grant: One thing that has benefitted me is learning to look for specific details. You need those for writing articles. It’s also been interesting to learn how to organize the story. When we were writing, Carter took me through that process. I really like being able to pursue my own ideas for this class. It’s fun to have the opportunity to write about what I am interested in.

Carter: I forget how much experience I have gotten over the past four years. I’d be telling Grant, just do this, and he’d say, I have no clue how to do that. I had to think what I was like the first time I did the paper and how little I knew and start from there. I thought about what tasks and order would help, so I didn’t overwhelm him.

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