The first ever ROAR Rally was an amazing success at South Fayette High School on Monday, February 10, 2025. A special student-centered school day, the event was designed to celebrate students, foster school spirit, and create meaningful connections within the school community. The talents and interests of students school-wide were recognized throughout the day.
South Fayette Township School District’s core tenets include being student-centered, future-focused, and innovation-driven. With a focus on student well-being, the district introduced the “South Fayette Way” in all four school buildings at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. The program is based on the principles of PBIS: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. The purpose of PBIS is to foster a positive school environment through clear expectations, positive reinforcement, and consistent consequences. It is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports needed for students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success.
The goal of the South Fayette Way is that the principles of being safe, kind, and responsible will be instilled in students through daily interactions and consistent expectations. Each school (K-8) has its own age-appropriate student acknowledgement system which may include rewards in the form of prizes, activities, gift cards, etc. The high school determined that a unique tactic was necessary to promote safety, kindness, and responsibility with a more mature student body.
The high school assembled an Engagement Team consisting of faculty and administrators to work with students, staff, and families on what it means to be safe, kind, and responsible as young adults. Assistant Principal T.J. Salopek noted that feedback from these groups was used to determine themes, trends, and areas of focus and these commonalities were taken into consideration as the engagement team united their work with the concept of PBIS. “By having students, staff, and their families collaborate on how this concept would be implemented at the high school, we believe there’s greater likelihood that PBIS will evolve as part of our school culture and truly be adopted as the South Fayette Way,” he said.
The ROAR Rally on February 10 started with a school-wide pep assembly as students arrived at school on a scheduled two-hour delay day. The Little Green Machine marching band played as students entered the high school gym and launched the start of the morning’s activities. “It was high-energy,” commented freshman band member Silvia Ulibarri. Students in grades 9 - 12 were then treated to a series of spectacles that included the high school dance team, recognition of fall and winter sports achievements as well as advance support for the spring athletic teams, a preview of the high school musical, and recognition of nine key students for demonstrating the South Fayette Way. The event also included a competition between pre-arranged teams of four students who battled in a wheelbarrow-style relay, a hands-free Oreo-eating race, and a contest to mummify a teammate with rolls of toilet paper. As to be expected, laughter and applause played tremendous roles throughout the morning.
After a break for study hall and lunch, students had the opportunity to participate in pre-selected break-out sessions. Each of the 24 fun and engaging activity options was designed from a survey of student interest and included yoga, board games, coloring, knitting, Esports, reading, taking a campus walk, Zumba, basketball, watching a movie, and so much more. U.S. Marine, Eric McElvenny, who had spoken with high school students during an assembly on Veteran’s Day, returned to lead a popular session on Grit, Perseverance, Resilience, and Character. Not only did the sessions provide opportunities for students to engage in a variety of different activities, they also allowed our Lion Learners to build relationships with peers, teachers, and staff in meaningful ways.
“The day of the ROAR Rally was honestly such a refreshing experience for the high school,” said senior Amelya Pinami who performed in the “Mamma Mia!” musical preview. “I can’t remember the last time I saw so many students getting excited for each other’s accomplishments. It was a beautiful show of how our high school’s culture is growing, and I am beyond grateful for the dedication and support we receive from our educators. I look forward to seeing what they do next.”
“It was a good opportunity to connect with our teachers in a different way and get to know other staff,” added junior Dara Olexa. “In one of the sessions I picked, I didn’t know anyone, so I talked to new people.”
“We were so excited to bring this opportunity to our students,” said high school principal Dr. Natasha Dirda. “I didn’t stop smiling the entire day. The event really reflected our deep love and care for every student along with our relentless pursuit of excellence in all that we do.”
The first SFHS ROAR Rally succeeded according to plan as students took advantage of an exciting opportunity to connect with peers, celebrate achievements, and engage in activities that inspire them. It was a fantastic step toward instilling the South Fayette Way and fostering a culture of care, connection, and excellence, all packaged in a memorable day that made a lasting impression on everyone who participated.