This is what the library doors looked like during the homecoming week. The homecoming week has been the Red Zone’s pinnacle so far with the Pep Rally and the first Red Zone football game. Photo by Leon Olszewski

By Leon Olszewski

The Red Zone is a new form of entertainment for PHS students with school spirit. A number of students have Red Zone T-shirts and are coming to sporting events.

The Red Zone started early in the 2014/15 school year with the purpose of bringing more school spirit to PHS. Mrs. Krysta Magee, who started the Red Zone with Ms. Chantel Vinson, calls it a “GREAT START!” At the pep rally, the varsity gym was filled with students wearing red clothes.

This is one of many posters in the hallways that attracts attention to buy a Red Zone shirt for $10. Buying a Red Zone shirt identifies a Red Zone member, which 180 students already are. Photo by Leon Olszewski

The purpose of the Red Zone is “to promote school spirit by getting the whole school community involved,” said Mrs. Magee. About 180 students have ordered their Red Zone Shirt for $10, and this this number keeps growing. Most of the sports have their most important sport events at which they need their fans listed on the back of the Red Zone shirt.  Senior Jacob Hildebrand, who is the president of the Pep Club, said, “I think that it will help the people that do come to the games look uniform and encourage them to cheer more and louder.” In addition there will be “lots of fun raffles at RED GAMES [in the future] so make sure to wear your Red Zone Shirt so you can win,” said Mrs. Magee.

The Pep Club was originally the main source of school spirit, but now that the Red Zone is here, PHS has a second big source of school spirit. Hildebrand said, “I like the Red Zone, I like the idea of everyone supporting everyone in all their other sports and activities.” Mrs. Magee, who sees the Red Zone and the Pep Club as two different things, said,” [We] work together to promote school spirit.” Although Hildebrand thinks similarly, he said, “I see the red zone as an extension of the Pep Club [and] I think the Pep Club should be thought of as the Government of the Red Zone.”

Furthermore, many adults come to sporting events to support PHS athletics and cheer for them with passion. Hildebrand said, “I also like the idea of the parents and other people in the community getting involved and supporting PHS athletics.”