Each year, students eagerly await Yorba Linda High School’s annual Olympic Rally. During this year’s Olympics Week, students competed in games, spirit activities, and performances inspired by Star Wars. Each grade represented a different color throughout the week, as freshmen wore red, sophomores blue, juniors white, and seniors black. The week was filled with friendly competition as classes earned points through dress-up days and many lunchtime activities.
Leading up to the rally, students showed up in their spirit all throughout the week in the themed dress-up days inspired by Star Wars. Monday’s theme, “The Force Awakens,” encouraged students to wear black and red for the Dark Side or neutral tones for the Light Side. Tuesday was followed by “Han Solo and Chewy,” a twin day on which friends and groups dressed in matching outfits across campus. On Wednesday, students dressed according to the theme “The Forest Moon of Endor” by wearing camo, while Thursday’s “May the Force Be With Your Favorite Team” led students to wear their favorite jerseys from their favorite sports teams. On the big finale day, the entire school gathered together in their class colors, filling the gym and entire campus with school spirit in anticipation of the rally. Calista Nguyen (12) shared, “Olympics Week is one of my favorite traditions because the whole school is able to get involved. Even the dress-up days make the campus feel so connected and excited for the rally.”
Throughout the week, students also competed in several lunchtime games that allowed each grade to earn points to add to the final Olympic score. These activities included chalk art, a water balloon toss, cornhole, and a game of Jenga, bringing in crowds of students to cheer on their classmates during the competitions. During each game, classes earned plastic balls corresponding to their class colors, which were then placed into clear podium-style containers representing each grade. As the week progressed, students could visually track which class was in the lead by the growing number of balls in each container, adding an extra level of excitement to the competitive week.
ASB’s preparation for the Friday rally began Thursday night when students spent hours of their afternoon and evening setting everything up and transforming the gym for the event. Students painted posters, decorated class sections, and finalized the script and timeline.
The rally itself began with the national anthem, performed by Cienna Olsen, setting the tone for a morning filled with energy and excitement. Performances by Dance Company, Cheer, and Song brought the crowd to life before the games began.
A highlight of the rally was the class dances, where each grade performed a choreographed routine they had spent weeks preparing. The routines were often fun and light-hearted, giving students the chance to be creative, laugh, and enjoy the moment as they performed alongside their grade. Allie Ottaviano (12) shares, “Participating in the dance each year is so fun for my friends and me, and it’s a way to really bond with my class and create lasting memories I wouldn’t have otherwise. I have great memories from past years, late dance practices, and spending time with everyone.”
One of the most anticipated events was the “Hungry Jedi” game, where students who are teachers from each grade raced to collect as many balls as possible in their baskets in a fast-paced competition similar to the classic Hungry Hippos game. The gym quickly filled with students cheering for their class’s representatives as each class tried to outscore the others.
Students also competed in a “Finish the Lyric” challenge before the rally concluded with the entire student body singing the alma mater together.
At the end of the week, the sophomores came out on top as the victors. Still, Olympic Week has always been about more than just winning. The late-night decorating, the time spent practicing together, and the energy in the stands are what make the tradition meaningful. Oftentimes, it is easy to float through high school without being intentional about creating new relationships outside of one’s direct circle. Olympics Week challenges students to step beyond their usual friend groups and work together with their entire grade, turning hundreds of individuals into a united team. While the scoreboard may reset next year, the memories and connections built within each class are what truly last.
