During this winter’s Spirit Week, dorms fiercely competed for the prize of a pizza feed with unique costumes and wild performances. From Girls Hockey’s Trolls impression and Williams’ imitation of Washington Crossing the Delaware—and particularly Victor Fat ’28’s elaborate costume—students rocked memorable outfits each day. Countless teachers showed up in style alongside their dorms. The hard work put in by teams and dorms this week certainly cannot be overlooked.
Given how significant Spirit Week is, its past remains a mystery to many on the Circle, even though knowledge of its history does exist. Recalling his time as a Groton student, David Black, PhD, ’80 recalled that the tradition was not a full week, and seemed to be more directly focused on St. Mark’s Day itself.
“The Friday before St. Marks in the fall of my Sixth Form year, the entire football team, about 40 people, went around to every building yelling and screaming,” he said. “It worked; we won the game the next day.”
Preston Bannard ’01 recalled there being custom-made “Beat St. Marks” T-shirts, reminiscent of last year’s “ROLL ZEEBS” shirts that were distributed at the Boys’ Varsity Soccer night game. Both Dr. Black and Mr. Bannard described Spirit Week as having been simpler.
Director of Student Activities and Assistant Dean of Students Tim Leroy noted that there used to be four Roll Calls a week in the Schoolroom with each one having an outfit theme during Spirit Week. Students would pack the Schoolroom and make announcements while standing on the proctor’s desk. Spirit Heads eventually moved it to the Forum, using its open space for events such as Minute-to-Win-It (starting 2016–17). This marked the beginning of Spirit Week, with speakers blaring music and posters hanging from the balcony.
Spirit Week has derived value from the fun memories it has created throughout its many years of existence. Cam Cirone ‘25 fondly remembers “Character Day” at his first Spirit Week: “I won as Harry Potter […] that really started my love for Spirit Week and led me to apply to be a Spirit Head.” He noted that Spirit Week generates excitement for St. Mark’s Day, but also keeps students happy amidst the stress of end-of-term exams. More importantly, it serves as a fun dorm bonding experience, as every dorm collaborates for the win through creative outfits and performances.
As Spirit Week has grown, so have new suggestions. Cam proposed awarding dorms for attending games or the winter musical, emphasizing the importance of supporting school activities. “As an athlete, it’s really great to play in front of a crowd,” Cam explained. “We could give points or glory to dorms with the best turnout.”
Dr. Black suggested bringing back the cart pull, where Second Formers pulled winning teams around the Circle in a wagon, who gave a Groton cheer as they passed each building. Other suggestions from interviewees included restoring the “Meme Wall” or having teachers compete in a Minute-to-Win-It for their dorms.
“It’s all about the student’s ideas,” said Mr. Leroy. “If students want to push for something different they should just try it.”
Though Spirit Week continues to evolve, it’s clear that the core of the event remains unchanged: a celebration of Groton’s community, spirit, and tradition. What began as a simple pre-St. Mark’s Day rally has transformed into a multifaceted, student-driven event that brings the entire school together. Whether through creative costumes, competitive dorm activities, or high-energy games, Spirit Week remains an integral part of the Groton experience, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
