For many the week before school begins is a week to indulge in the last days of summer, but for Charter’s leadership students it means waking up early in the morning to come to school for “preweek.” As the new 2025-2026 school year nears for the students at PPCHS, the Student Government Association (SGA) is dedicated to preparing campus to welcome jaguars back for another year.
Arriving every day at nine in the morning sharp, SGA students gather in room D210 as the official leadership class composed of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Officially splitting up into committees ranging from making banners, to class decorating, to helping teachers prepare their own classrooms for their new students. Each day had a specific theme that the members followed with hopes of fostering school spirit within the entire class.
Dressing up for decades day consisted of students dressing up as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin to represent the early 1700s or sports jerseys and baggy jeans to showcase the late 1990s. On Tuesday pajamas of all colors and patterns were worn and on Wednesdays it was just fair to dress from top to bottom in pink. On Thursday, members dressed as sailors to represent their class theme: Cruisin’ with SGA and on the very last day minions roamed the halls of Charter for minions’ day.
As Student Government takes pride in fostering school spirit, every day was taken as an opportunity to showcase decorations, styles, and out of the box outfits to prepare for a year of exciting events and amusing themes. “Dressing up every single day and getting to see everyone’s reactions to the different costumes was definitely one of my favorite parts,” shares senior 2nd Vice President Giana Marte. However, what stood out the most this preweek was simply the carefully painted banners placed inside of each building on campus.
With the main goal of inclusion and representation for the many departments and electives offered at Pines Charter, SGA worked every day of the week to prepare personalized banners for the variety of groups ranging from band to robotics and from English to math. Each detail drawn onto the banners was placed with purpose to ensure all groups felt welcomed and motivated to begin another successful year.
The teamwork and bonding exercised throughout preweek is one of the most significant aspects of this annual tradition. After each eight hour long day painting banners, making handcrafted decorations, and eating lunch together, friendships quickly emerged. It was just about “being yourself,” expresses sophomore Armani Hernandez. “Everyone was so welcoming and the way everyone bonded is what made the environment SGA had to offer so awesome.”
As the leadership students reflect on the week spent back in school, it is described as “one of the highlights of summer,” shares sophomore Emma Betancourt. “It was such a good team bonding experience because I was able to get to know the amazing students that I will spend the entire year with.” Notably one of the biggest additions to this year’s SGA is the increased number of underclassmen accepted into the class. Together, all age groups were able to feel included.
After five full days of decorating campus and helping teachers, the Student Government Association hopes to make every Jaguar feel excited to begin another school year at Charter. With the goal of representing all groups of students and promoting school spirit, SGA is ready for the year ahead.
