Hoco Spirit Week Photobooth by Ava Brouard
McLaren has been taking photos and pictures for the newspaper and yearbook for about two years now, when taking the photos for Spirit Week, he used his own personal Nikon Coolpix camera in the media center lobby. His favorite day was “Anything but a Backpack Day”, when students got creative with what they used to carry around their belongings. “I carried around a Sears shopping cart” McLaren said. One moment that stuck out to him happened during Meme Day. “Someone walked into the Media Center wearing a dinosaur costume,” he recalled. “They had to duck to get in through the doors , and everyone was astonished.” McLaren shared that many students had wanted to take pictures with the dinosaur, and it had became one of his favorite moments of the week.
As someone who has been taking photos for about four years all together, McLaren viewed Spirit Week as more than just a fun event, it was a chance to document the energy of the students body. “Capturing pictures is good for the school because it shows our school spirit and activities,” he said. He believes photography helps students and staff look back on the fun they had while also creating memories for future generations.
In the end, Spirit Week was not just about the themes or the costumes, it was about the memories made in between the moments. Through his photos, McLaren captured more than just faces. He caught the laughter, the effort, and the pride of Melbourne Highs students. His work reminds everyone that the school spirit is not just seen, it is felt. And thanks to McLaren those photos are frozen in time.
Caption:
Hoco Energy: On!! Melbourne High School’s Spirit Week brings excitement and color to the halls as students dress up and celebrated their school pride. Senior Kyle Mclaren, one of the schools newspaper editor, decides to photograph Spirit Week after he would usually skip it himself. “Usually I do not participate in spirit weeks, but this time was pretty fun” McLaren says. Photo taken by: Ava Brouard