Sparkle and Shine: Clemens Sparklers Team Puts a Spin on Pep Rallies

Cheerleaders rally the crowd with sound and acrobatics, but the Sparklers cheer team get the pumps up the crowd by connecting with the audience, touching hearts with the power or inclusion. The Sparklers cheer team was started this year by Ms. Woods, Ms. Aguilar, and coach Tollison after it ended a few years ago. Its purpose: to include students with disabilities in high school festivities.   

“Hopefully, there will be more opportunities for ALE students, or even for kids of all abilities to participate in extracurricular activities even sooner than high school,” Ms. Gonzales said. 

During the pep rallies, the Sparklers rally the crowd when they come out with the cheer squad, following in their footsteps by repeating their moves. 

 “Well this past pep rally when they were not only doing the cheers but when they actually were able to do everything with us was my favorite,” said Zaire Franklin (11). “Being able to experience all of that with them was incredible.”
The students adore being apart of this team. It allows them to show their school pride and helps them to become more active and involved with school events, such as pep rallies. Sophomore Tagen Vale is just one of many students that looks forward to every Friday pep rally, as he gets to cheer in front of the whole school with the rest of the clubs and organizations.

“It feels awesome, I just like it,” Vale said. 

Along with the ALE students apart of the Sparklers, many of the cheerleaders enjoy spending time with the team and learning unexpected things from them.    
 
“I learn a lot from them. They teach me a lot in 45 minutes than I normally learn in a day. Like how to be patient. I believe that’s a key element to have with participating in things like this because it can be more challenging for them,” Franklin said. “I learn how to just have fun and be able to be myself with them. They’re all so sweet and really into hugging so I learn to be more open and accepting to affection.” 

~Kennedi Adams- ​Design Editor