By Mattias Fontao ’27
Every year at Don Bosco Prep, one of the most anticipated times of the year is Spirit Week. Every year during the final week of January, students, faculty, and staff gather to celebrate the life of St. John Bosco and remember his mission to help young people meet Christ through an education system that consists of a home, school, parish, and playground.
The week is filled with games, activities, and themed dress down days designed to cultivate school spirit and brotherhood among the entire Don Bosco community. The week-long celebration is defined by its ability to raise everyone’s spirits, grow friendships, and provide a bit of fun for students. However, the most significant part of Bosco Spirit Week is the competition between grade levels to come out on top of the Spirit Week standings.
Every year, grade levels battle it out in a series of competitions, with two activities taking place each day at 1 o’clock. The scene inside the gym is chaotic by the end of the day, with each grade level pushing themselves to the limits in an effort to triumph over their opposing classes.
This year, the Seniors are the reigning champions, having won the completion last year as Juniors. However, the underclassmen are willing to do whatever it takes to claim the throne from the Class of 2025. So, let the games begin, and may the best grade win!
Spirit Week 2025 started off with a bang on Day 1. The theme was Jersey Day, and countless sports uniforms decorated the campus of Don Bosco as students made their way from class to class. From traditional jerseys like the New York Rangers home uniform to more unique threads, such as a Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes uniform, students were able to show off their favorite teams and players as they walked through the halls.
Day 1 of Spirit Week also marked the start of the annual Coin Drive, another friendly competition between grade levels that went towards a good cause. Coins and dollar bills were collected at lunch in containers designated to each grade, with all proceeds going to a Salesian school in California, where two students have been affected by the horrific California wildfires. Putting coins in your grade level’s container adds to your class total, while putting dollar bills in another grade’s bin subtract from their total. This contest is a perfect way to raise funds for a good cause, and it sparks a bit more competition into the week, fostering the growth of even more school spirit.
The day concluded in the gymnasium, where the entire school community gathered to watch the official start to the Spirit Week competition between grade levels. The gym bleachers were packed to the maximum, with students filling up every inch of the concourses overlooking the gym floor.
After a short prayer by Director Father Abraham Feliciano, the contest began with the first event: Dodgeball. The activity was organized into a tournament format, with two first round games followed by a third place match, and a final taking place at the end. The first round matches were taken by the Junior class, who defeated the freshmen after a valiant effort by younger Ironmen, and the Senior class who finished off the Sophomore class after a dominating performance. The third place match was won by the Sophomores, getting the “wise fools” on the score sheet. The final was an intense match between the Junior and Senior classes. The match went the distance, taking up 6 of the 7 minutes of regular time. However, the Juniors class was able to knock off the defending champions, and the Class of 2026 were off to a dream start on Day 1.
The next and final event of the day was Bubble Sumo, a newly established game that was making its debut in the Spirit Week rotation. The Bubble Sumo activity took the same format as Dodgeball, and the results were nearly identical. The Junior and Senior classes surged to the finals yet again, running through their younger competitors. The final was a rematch from the Dodgeball match just a few minutes beforehand, and this time the Juniors left no question. The Juniors swept the Seniors in their best of three matchup, increasing the Juniors lead at the top of the standings before the end of Day 1. The Juniors are clearly the current favorites to win Spirit Week, and if no one can put a stop to their dominant run soon, the 11th grade may run away with the title before the week’s end.
After the Bubble Sumo final, a 1v1 between Mr. Moore and Robert Elkins took place, and much to the dismay of the entire faculty, Mr. Moore was demolished by the Junior, who sent Mr. Moore flying onto the ground before being mobbed by his fellow Ironmen. The energy and excitement of Day 1 set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling Spirit Week at Don Bosco Prep. With the Juniors off to a commanding lead, the stage is set for an intense battle as the other grade levels will be looking to make up some ground on the early favorites and claim the ultimate Spirit Week crown.
