Students School Year Events Energy Meet Open Pep

American schools "hold" (organize and arrange) many special events to kick off the new school year. They hope to "motivate" (give someone energy and enthusiasm) students and teachers for the year "to come" (ahead; in the future).

Many schools have an "open house" at the end of the summer. This is an opportunity for new students and their families to "tour" (see all parts of something) the school, meet "faculty" (teachers) and "staff" (administrators and executives), and get answers to their questions. During an open house, "incoming" (starting for the first time) students might be sent to their new classroom to meet with their new teacher and learn what to expect during the year. Sometimes new students can "register" (sign up) during the open house and pay any fees for "extra-curricular" (outside of the school) activities, such as participation in sports, music, or drama.

Once the school year has begun, many schools have one or more "pep rallies." Pep rallies often happen in a gym or "auditorium" (a room with a stage, designed for performances) that is large enough for all the students to sit on "bleachers" (long wooden or metal benches with lower rows in the front and higher rows in the back). Often the band plays, "cheerleaders" (people, usually girls, who wear uniforms, repeat phrases, and dance, especially during sports games) "cheer" (shout phrases to make people feel energetic and excited), and the principal or other individuals give short speeches to try to increase the energy and enthusiasm of all the students and faculty and staff members. Pep rallies are often held for sports teams at other times of the year, too, to build student interest and support for those teams