With the Red and Gold season quickly approaching, excitement and anticipation among students are certainly present. Captains are rushing to pick out their kickoff outfits, and other students are anxiously waiting to hear what teams and categories they’re placed on.
But how do teachers and faculty members truly feel about Red and Gold? Do they share as much excitement as we do? We asked a few of our new teachers and some of our veteran teachers some questions to get their opinions regarding the hallowed Red and Gold season.
Mrs. Grasz and Ms. Mangold are new teachers this year, and their students have been buzzing about Red and Gold since the beginning of the year.
Mrs. Grasz:
Q: Being a new teacher hearing about Red and Gold, what are your expectations for the next six weeks?
A: It is hard to know what to expect. R&G has been described to me, but I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around it all as it is unlike anything I have experienced in my almost 30 years of teaching. My expectations are to learn a lot about the R&G culture of Rosary. I am thinking students may be a bit more tired than normal. I’m expecting the excitement for the event to build as it goes. I’m expecting a spectacular performance by the end of it all.
Q: What are you excited to see, and is there anything you are nervous or unsure of as a teacher throughout this season?
A: I’m excited to see how the whole process unfolds. I’m excited to see random groups of girls work with each other; I like seeing students engaged with others with whom they don’t traditionally collaborate. I’m excited to experience the energy that I have heard goes along with the experience. I guess the only thing I am nervous about is how it will affect what/how I teach. I know it is a unique experience to Rosary; I want to be sensitive to the needs of my students without compromising the curriculum that needs to be taught.
Q: If you were to be a part of Red and Gold, what category would you choose?
A: I think I would like to work with props or publicity. I like to be creative in these ways…poster making, painting, building.
Ms. Mangold:
Q: What have you heard about Red and Gold so far?
A: I have heard that the school gets very decorated for kickoff, and I know that once Red and Gold season starts, everyone is practicing around campus and everyone gets really excited. I’ve also heard it gets pretty intense because they perform at Servite and a team wins.
Q: If you were to be a part of Red and Gold, what category would you choose?
A: I would definitely choose dance.
As veteran teachers, Mr. Clough, Ms. La Bonte ‘09, and Ms. Barclay ‘94 have seen their fair share of Red and Gold kickoffs and performances, but do they love the R&G season as much as students?
Mr. Clough:
Q: What part of Red and Gold are you looking forward to this year?
A: The kick-off is always a lot of fun. I love getting here and seeing you guys run around. It’s just a really good strong, positive energy.
Q: How do you feel about being portrayed in the kickoff skits every year?
A: Well two things. First, I am a quadruple threat. I am a singer, actor, dancer, and kung fu street fighter. A lengthy audition process needs to be held to get the best actor from the student body to portray me as a quadruple threat. My second issue is the SAG-AFTRA union. I can’t have people copying my likeness as it violates the union rules. All my sayings and my moves are trademarked. I should be seeing financial gain from this.
Q: If you were to be a part of Red and Gold, what category would you choose?
A: Clearly, I would be on stage—definitely something where I am the lead in the show with several solo songs. But my last part of the show has to be an audience sing-along, full participation is required.
Ms. La Bonte:
Q: Being so involved in the Red and Gold process, what do you look forward to most this year?
A: There’s not necessarily one thing I look forward to. It’s the whole process. I love seeing the ideas come to life. I love reading a script and then really seeing it come to life on stage. I love seeing everyone work together to achieve a common goal. I’m excited for everyone else to see all the hard work the students put into the show. I love being in the lobby at Servite during performance weekend and having people come out and be like woah.
Q: What categories did you participate in as a student, and if you were to redo Red and Gold, would you have done anything differently?
In my freshman year, I was in fashion, so I helped make costumes. Sophomore through senior year, I was in choral. If I could change something, I would want to be in dance and drill and give it a shot for one year. It’s mainly because that would be a big challenge for me because I’m not very coordinated, and I would be trying something new and overcoming my fear.
Ms. Barclay:
Q: What categories did you participate in as a student, and if you were to redo Red and Gold, would you have done anything differently?
A: I was in a category called “Sneak Preview” my freshman year; this category was like a mini version of the play before the play started. I played a man with no legs, and I played this role really well. Soph through Senior year, I was on drama, but my senior year I was the script captain, so obviously I wrote myself the starring part.
If I were to do anything differently, I would win at least one year because I never won any of the years, and that seems crazy to me. Clearly the year I wrote it, the play was stellar. People just weren’t ready for my level of talent.
Q: What was your favorite part of Red and Gold as a student?
A: I liked being out of class a lot, and I really enjoyed writing the script. It was a power high for me. I peaked then and life has unraveled for me since.
Q: As a Rosary alum, what is experiencing Red and Gold as a teacher like?
A: OMG, it’s terrific. I mean . . . grades drop and everyone is tired and useless for 6 weeks leading to the show, but seeing someone on stage whom I didn’t expect to see having such a moment is truly awesome. Last year my beloved students Gabby Thompson and Marci Rau ‘24 were show-stoppers for me. I was so proud of them and it made me realize, yet again, that Red and Gold is a special time for students to develop talents, take risks, and truly enjoy their Rosary experience.
Judging by these teachers’ answers, it’s clear to see that they are just as excited about Red and Gold as we are! Reminder: Red and Gold kickoff is this Friday, January 26. Get excited, Royals!
