Known as “Bear Dayz,” Selma High’s last week prior to spring break was filled with lively team competitions, dress up days, and the annual “Bearchella” concert.
On Friday, March 15th, teams of eight to ten students and staff members were introduced in a Banner Day Parade. Dressed in matching T-Shirts and holding team banners together, teammates paraded through the quad during lunch. Meanwhile, judges scored the teams based on outfits, banners, and the school spirit they brought to the parade.
Throughout the week of March 18th teams competed in a variety of team building games during lunch for a chance to win a trophy, medals, and a pizza party.
The week started off with a “Nerd Day” dress up day. Dressed in comically large glasses and ties, teams competed in “Team Trivia” in the quad. Gaining a head start in the competition, Team Staff won with 13 points.
On Tuesday, the pool area was filled with the livelihood of a pool party. Clad in beach shorts and towels, teams prepared for the timed “Boat Race”. With 1:17 minutes on the clock, Bear Cubs won the race and took Team Staff’s position on the leaderboard for the day.
In the midst of the competition, participants expressed a friendly competitiveness.
“Last year, I was actually on the staff team. That’s why this year I was like, ‘Let’s beat them,’” said Ms. Carrillo of the Bear Cubs.
On Wednesday, teammates raced across campus to complete the given objectives in a scavenger hunt. Goals included finding the English teacher and Clarion adviser, Mr. Castle, playing a game in the library, and singing a birthday song to a Campus Security Officer. Coming in first place in the scavenger hunt, Team Staff topped the leaderboard once again, with Bear Cubs in second place. Meanwhile, Everybody Knows, or EBK for short, made their first appearance in the top three.
On Thursday, dressed as their favorite internet memes, participants raced through an inflatable obstacle course, cornhole and speed eating competition. Although the standings remained the same, the gap between competitors shortened to span only a few points between them.
The final stage of the competition was arranged during Selma High’s annual “Bearchella” concert. Teams were to enter a judged lip sync battle. With a perfect score of 25, Bear Cubs, who enacted a rock concert with toy props, won the Bear Dayz trophy. Although EBK also scored a perfect score with their rendition of The Little Mermaid, it wasn’t enough to overtake Team Staff who scored second place.
Throughout the competition, team members had time to value the teammates they competed next to.
“Mrs. Manter is on our team with the Bear Cubs, so that was exciting too. I love her energy,” noted Ms. Carrillo.
Even if a trophy wasn’t received, teams enjoyed the time spent competing with their friends.
“You should all do ‘Bear Dayz’ next year. It’s really fun,” encouraged junior Joan Bolanos of Los Frijolitos.
Meanwhile, various of Selma High’s entertainment groups put on a show for spectators at Bearchella.
The event started off with a performance by Winter Percussion, followed by Winter Guard. Coincidentally, Selma High’s Winter Percussion ensemble was set to compete in a regional competition at Fullerton. Bearchella offered Percussion performers a chance to relax before the competition.
“It prepared the ensemble for a lot of the stress that we would be facing for the weekend,” explained senior Hannah Rodriguez of the Winter Percussion ensemble.
Bearchella also gave entertainment teams a chance to perform for their own enjoyment without the pressure of competition.
“When we perform at competitions we get critiqued for how we perform,” added Hannah Rodriguez. “I loved being able to perform for a big audience and not have to worry about what the judges are thinking.”
In addition, Selma High’s Choir sang a medley compiled with songs from Olivia Rodrigo’s album “GUTS”. Varsity Cheer presented a country themed performance and theater production acted out a segment of their upcoming Spring Musical.
Many of the performers on stage looked forward to the yearly repetition of Bearchella.
“I love performing because it’s an outlet of my emotions, [it’s] an escape,” said senior Bryan Luis Guzman of Winter Percussion. “Seeing the difference [of the performance] from the start to the end [of the year] makes me do it every year.”
Through competitions and musical performances, Selma High School’s “Bear Dayz” offered something for both staff and students on campus.
