By Miranda Olson

“Atlantic Loyalty”

Recently, Atlantic High School principal Heather McKay requested assistance from the advisors of the high school to inform their students of an important matter regarding respect at athletic events.

McKay had noticed that the students of AHS were sitting down as the band prepared themselves to play the school song.  As the band played, none of the students stood up.  Once athletic director, Matt Alexander, appeared in the corner of the gym, students then began to realize that they should be standing.  McKay said, “I am extremely disappointed that this is the behavior being demonstrated and do not understand it at all.”

Student leaders from different organizations around the school were reminded to make sure all students were standing while the song was being played, but failed to do so.  “I attribute our school song as our local national anthem. To sit through the song is disrespectful to our band, our school, our teams, and our community,” said McKay.

Atlantic High School art teacher, Pat Wiederien, believes that the students are not doing it deliberately, but simply because they are not paying attention.  “Students have learned to stand when they recognize that the national anthem is being played, but maybe they don’t recognize the school song as the school song,” said Wiederien.

Senior Brooke Fletcher attended the girls basketball game vs. Red Oak that night, and remembers the instance vaguely.  “I don’t remember hearing the school song start.  So much was going on around me and I could not hear.  Half of the students of our school are lazy, and the other half of the students aren’t near as enthusiastic at the girl’s games as they are at the boy’s games,” said Fletcher.

The next time that you attend an athletic event at Atlantic High School, be sure to stand for the school song.