As I sat down to write this article I had the song “Be True To Your School” by the Beach Boys stuck in my head. Okay, so that says a little something about my age, but the song still rings true. School banners are a great way to show off your school pride. When you have the yearly open house at the beginning of the school year, it’s nice to see the school banner hung out front for all to see. New students and parents can admire it, while returning families can feel the rush of pride you get as an alumni.
Why do we need school banners?
School banners serve a lot of purposes and are designed in a variety of ways. The school banners that have the name of the school and a picture of their mascot can be used for special events held after school hours, or can be carried with a group if they are involved in an event where they are representing the school. Our local marching band had a school banner that specified their school’s name and the band’s name. The banner served as a meeting place for the spectators that were supporting the band and also as a source of pride for the students and teachers participating. Additionally, school banners can be used to provide motivational or inspirational messages. There are any number of motivational messages that can be put on a vinyl banner along with the school name and mascot. Putting them up around the school can help to reinforce positive ideas.
Should the students get involved in designing their school banners?
That is something that only your school can decide but there have been a lot of schools that give students the opportunity to express themselves on school banners. The art department allowed the students to create drawings of the mascot, or of something related to the school that they find significant. Students can also submit ideas for motivational or inspiring messages to be put on the school banners.
Both the student body and the faculty then cast their votes for the graphics as well as the wording. The top three of each are made into school banners that get hung all around the campus. Many of the students said that they get more out of it by getting to help make the decision. They feel that by being involved, the school banners represented the students themselves instead of what the faculty thought the banner signs should say.
The feedback from the students continues to be positive. The students that have graduated continue to feel a great deal of pride in their school and some have started volunteering because of it. The new students become part of the process as new custom banners are designed. And the previous banners remain on display for all to enjoy. School banners are very reasonably priced. Therefore the school can continue this tradition every year. Funds are raised and the community finds itself involved on many levels. Pride in the school translates into pride in the community, and continues to build a strong positive environment for students and professionals alike. And all of this can be created with a simple school banner!