On Jan. 24, 2025, the Vancouver District Students’ Council (VDSC) hosted a District-wide Spirit Day. Mackenzie Chung and Arabella Mew, Grade 12 students at Eric Hamber Secondary and co-presidents of the VDSC, share their experiences:

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On the last day of the first semester, VSB students and staff were invited to participate in the VDSC’s District-wide spirit day. This year’s theme was “School Colours and Merch,” to celebrate the individuality and spirit of each school while uniting the District through a collective celebration. 

Submission from Eric Hamber Secondary (school colours: maroon and blue, mascot: griffin)

This was the VDSC’s second year organizing a District-wide spirit day, following last year’s “Pajama Day” theme. After receiving support for this year’s event, VDSC’s representatives from all secondary schools and alternate programs across the District got together for a brainstorming session. Top themes included, “Dress like a Teacher” and “Dream Job,” but there was a clear winner: “School Colours and Merch.” 

Submission from Killarney Secondary (school colours: green and grey, mascot: cougar)

While speaking with students and staff on the day of the event, it became evident that spirit days are a crucial part of bringing school communities together. One Eric Hamber student shared, “with so many people in the school in different niches and friend groups, these days are a way of unifying all of us.” 

During lunch, students were scattered across the school. Whether in math club, choir practice or basketball games, a sea of maroon and blue (Eric Hamber’s colours) kept them connected. One of the largest challenges of having a District-wide initiative is spreading awareness of the event. VDSC utilized social media, Microsoft Teams, school announcements and its 40 representatives to reach as many people as possible. They also took over VSB’s District Instagram for the day to highlight the event in real-time. The efforts paid off, and the VDSC’s Instagram became flooded with mentions and direct messages of photos throughout the day. It was incredibly rewarding to see such engagement from students and staff. 

Submission from Magee Secondary (school colours: red and black, mascot: lion)

The VDSC’s mandate is to encourage inter-school connections and promote student voice. The District-wide spirit day is an example of how initiatives held by students for students can bring everyone together, no matter their grade or school. The VDSC hopes to continue hosting this initiative and appreciates the involvement of students and staff who participated!