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 teachers Thane Lewis and Jason Parker. They begin to play the school song. This 2008 performance was the last time the lyrics echoed through UPrep.
However, according to Lewis, 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,” Bass 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, won. This type of challenge was new to her.
“I was somebody who wrote a lot of poetry,” Sorby said. “I wasn’t inclined to write the kind of thing they wanted for the school song.”
However, Sorby’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,” Sorby said.
Writing the school song was a high point of the year for her.
“I was proud after I wrote it,” Sorby said.
According to Bass, student interest in singing the song dwindled.
“I think the school is beyond that [the school song],” Bass said. “The kids didn’t like it very much.”
According to Bass, 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,” Bass said.
Despite the song’s 26-year absence from campus, Lewis 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,” Lewis 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 Buick, who plays the clarinet, is in the current jazz class and was previously unaware that the school song existed.
“I think we should bring it back,” Buick said. “I would probably be willing to play it.”
Lewis 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,” Lewis said.
