School Traditions in a Small Town

As I sat down to write this post, I couldn’t believe that my last post was October 6th! I thought to myself, that couldn’t be possible, it wasn’t that long ago that I wrote something. Where did the month of October go?!


There have been lots of activities going on and celebrations. Of course, the most recent was Halloween. As a teacher, and now principal, there are always two feelings about holidays being celebrated at school or holidays that fall during a school day. As a teacher, I didn’t really like “holidays.” I know, it sounds Bah Humbug-ish, and I suppose it is. Probably part of the reason I like teaching is that there is quite a bit of structure and routine. Yes, every day is different, but the bones are the same. The students get very excited and I can’t fault them for that! It is fun to see the students enjoying celebrations. I am all for celebrations, but those times can be a big challenge too.


For Freeman, Friday was extra special because we were playing in the State Football Play-offs. What an opportunity! This is the first year that Freeman has played 11 man football, and the season has been very successful. Only one loss to date! I am going to take some time to reflect on traditions and what a unique place Freeman is.


I grew up in a small community but one that had a big heart. Filley was a lot smaller than what Freeman is now, but very similar in traditions and how family like the school is. Friday nights weren’t just a night that football was played, it was a night when the entire town and community showed up to support the home team. Alumni, cousins, grandparents, little kids, big kids, parents, and even people who just wanted to watch a good game showed up. The men paraded up and down the sidelines all night watching the plays carefully and refereeing or coaching as the clock ticked down. After the game, hours were spent mulling over the plays and stats and wondering how things might have turned out differently. Even when the games were away, there was a big crowd that followed. When the state tournament rolled around, the entire town shut down and headed to the game. There was overwhelming support from all people in the community. I remember one time when my brother was playing in the state basketball tournament. He received cards in the mail from people in the community wishing him good luck. That made an impression on me. Here were people that weren’t related to us, that thought enough of my brother and our family to go out of their way to send him a card. You just don’t find that everywhere.


I have spent some time teaching in class B school districts. The word community doesn’t have the same meaning as it does in a class C or D school district. If a team made it to the state tournament, life went on as usual in town. School didn’t let out early so students and staff could attend the game. There weren’t big community pep rally’s sending off the players to state. In fact, often times, you wouldn’t even know that there was anything different going on in the day.


So here I have come back to small town Nebraska where I have quickly been reminded of the meaning of “community.” The Freeman Falcons have been having a great football season. Last week was our first play-off game. So much excitement has been building around the town. Lots of question:


-Where will we play?


-Who will we play?


-What time is the game?


-Will there be an early out?


-What time is the Pep Rally?


So Friday comes along and as I walk into the school early in the morning, I am hit with the realization that Freeman is not an ordinary place. The cafeteria area was filled with good luck signs, presents, balloons, banners, and most of all pride. Pride in our school. Pride in what has been accomplished so far this year. Pride in the young men and coaches who have been working so hard to get to where they are today. Pride in the community that has become Freeman over the last 16 years. It didn’t end with that moment though. Throughout the day I was constantly reminded of the uniqueness that makes Freeman what it is. To see so many students and parents attend the Pep Rally in support of the team at 3 o’clock on a Friday afternoon and to see a new stadium filled with patrons on one of the coldest nights of football we have had this season. What an opportunity to be part of such a unique and special community.


The fun doesn’t stop there though. The Falcons won their football game last Friday night and are heading almost 4 hours north to play under the lights this coming Friday. But it’s not just football that is celebrating the season. The volleyball team is undefeated and will be heading north to Lincoln to play in the state volleyball tournament next week. So the excitement continues. One of the biggest problems Freeman is facing this week is that the football and volleyball teams will be playing at the same time on Friday but 3 hours apart. The community is conflicted about which game to attend and upset that going to both isn’t an option. Here again, only in a small town, do you find this to be a problem. Despite this, I can say with certainty that there will be a long trail of silver and blue headed north that will stop in Lincoln or Hartington to cheer on the Falcons. With any luck, we will find ourselves in a similar situation next Friday when there’s a possibility that both teams will play on the same day, but hopefully a different time.


So next week when I walk in the door on Wednesday or Thursday, I am sure there will be an overwhelming cafeteria filled with signs, notes, good luck bags, balloons, and pride for the volleyball team as they prepare for the state tournament. Some say, there is no place like Nebraska. I say, there is no place like Freeman. How the games turn on in the next week, no one can fully predict. However, I can be certain that there will be an overwhelming amount of support from the school and community.


What an opportunity!