From March 3 to March 7, 2025, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) celebrated the coming spring season and the historic academic success of the Dragons, with the “Strawberry Field Forever” Spirit Week and the second, and final, Renaissance Rally (Ren Rally) of the 2024-2025 school year. Both events were prepared and planned by the Associated Student Body (ASB).
The Spirit Week was during the days leading up to the Ren Rally, a celebration of students who received a GPA of 3.0 or higher, or raised their GPA by 0.5 from one quarter to the next. Because of this, the week was tied into the theme chosen by the Dragons. ASB Vice President Jaden Abara ‘25 explained, in reference to this year’s theme “A Year For The Records” that, “Ren Rallies, in general, are based on a song, … we [ASB] did some incorporation of that … [to] stay in our theme but also [try] not be too repetitive.” The theme was chosen based on a survey where students widely supported “Strawberry Field Forever” by “the Beatles.”
The Spirit Week
Each day leading up to the Ren Rally had its own unique theme in an attempt to bring a unique and non-musical flavor to the spirit week, spring imagery and strawberries. This was because, in Abara’s words, “In past spirit days we’ve already had a lot of music,” though many students believed the themes were subsequently out of place.
Starting Monday, students were encouraged to dress up in certain theme-oriented clothing which was shared through the daily announcements, social media and posters around campus.
First among the themes was color wars between each grade level, where each student wore a color representing their individual classes, including, orange for freshman, pink for sophomores, blue for juniors and green for seniors.
Following this, students were encouraged to wear “jorts” and overalls, with a tie-dying activity on the stage on Tuesday. ASB set a theme of plaid outfits and a picnic blanket area on Wednesday and strawberry shortcake merch with water balloon toss on Thursday. Abara felt that, “the tie dye turned out really well” but the picnic and water balloon toss, however, were canceled due rain and low temperatures. In response, ASB posted alternative activities on their Instagram, such as clay sculpting on Wednesday and Strawberry planting on Thursday.
Some felt that the use of Instagram for information was a poor choice, including Student A, who said, “I think we lean on social media a lot [in ASB] … [but] it’s really common for kids not to be allowed to have social media.” Others also complained about the clothing themes, even believing it caused low participation, particularly among freshmen. Student B said that participation is low, “because they give us the ugly … colors like orange … I’ve [also] heard a lot of people say they don’t own jeans for jorts or overalls.” Despite these opinions and the weather, many still maintained that the spirit week was successful, with Josiah Rodriguez ’27 stating, “I really like the themes as a big fan of the Beatles … [and] a person really focused on fashion”
The Ren Rally
On March 7, 2025, the Ren Rally arrived in full force, accompanied by hordes of students and dozens of decorations including balloons, paper strawberries and paper streamers. Throughout fourth period, eligible students of all grade levels received cards that could be used to redeem a donut and a mystery prize, which further doubled as raffle tickets for a variety of prizes.
Other activities included slime making, a balloon animal station, life sized as well as regular foosball, basketball arenas, Mario Kart, a photo station and a table where Dragons could receive soft drinks and lemonade.
Also present, was a DJ to add accompanying music, though Rodriguez, like many others, expressed, “I wish they would have played different music because when I think of strawberry fields forever I think of the Beatles and the music around that time, not this.”
Others, like Mackenzie Gamble ‘26, said the rally could have been, “more spaced out, it’s really clustered” despite this still being, “one of the better ones.”
Isaiah Navarez ‘27 said, “I think if [Ren Rallies were] the same every year it would get old. For Ren Rallies you have this rough outline of what it looks like but it’s always something different … It feels like [ASB] … cares.”
The rally continued on strong throughout the lunch period until, inevitably, the Dragons were called off to their last class of the week or off campus, still brimming with school spirit.
ASB Treasurer, Kaitlyn Ogden ‘25, reflected that making a Rally like this takes, “a lot of work and a lot of money … but it’s okay [because] it’s for our students … I feel everything ASB does is to unify the student body and make everyone feel welcome … I really love this [Ren Rally].”
With the passing of the period, the Dragons bade farewell to the last Ren Rally of the year, or perhaps their last rally ever. Generally, student opinion reflected well on ASB’s hard work and they look forward to their next project to continue the unity at Foothill Tech.
