Traweek Middle School in Covina hadn’t had a Pep Squad for two decades until one determined student and a newly hired teacher worked to change that.
Lily Morales, an eighth grader, set her sights on reviving the cheer program at Traweek, but she was unable to do it alone. That’s where new teacher Heaven Velasquez came into the picture.
“When Velasquez introduced herself to her classes last school year and mentioned her lifelong cheer experience, Lily, a seventh grader at the time, saw an opportunity,” school officials said in a statement.
The young girl then went up to Velasquez every week after class to ask about starting a cheer team, and at first, the new teacher admitted she was skeptical.
“It was my first year of teaching and I wasn’t sure at first, but I saw how passionate she was and realized this could be something really meaningful for her,” Velasquez said.
The pair, with help from Assistant Principal James Coney and fellow teacher Krista Marriott, successfully formed the Traweek Pep Squad for the start of this school year.
It’s a fairly big squad too; the team consists of 21 seventh and eighth graders who practice three times a week under the coaching of both Velasquez and Marriott.
And all the hard work led to their first performance at a basketball game earlier this month.
“My favorite part about Pep Squad is having fun with my friends and being able to cheer for others,” Lily Morales said. “I’m really excited to cheer at games and hope to continue in high school. To anyone who wants to start their own team or club, I would tell them it’s amazing and lots of fun – start something new and make it happen.”
“We really emphasize that being inclusive and positive toward each other is crucial,” added Marriott, who teaches math and science at Traweek Middle School. “When I have a tough day in the classroom, I go to cheer practice and my whole mood changes. The girls are so encouraging; it’s been a great experience.”
For students who want to take cheerleading to the next level, Traweek Pep Squad is collaborating with cheer coaches at Covina High School, who share routines and advice to help the younger ones build their skills. Covina High cheerleaders have also come down to Traweek Pep Squad practices to demonstrate cheers and provide mentorship.
News of the establishment of the cheer team has even reached the highest level of the school’s administration.
“Seeing Traweek’s Pep Squad take off is truly inspiring,” Interim Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Blackmore said. “This shows what can happen when students and staff work together to create something new. Thank you to Ms. Velasquez, Ms. Marriott and Lily for making this possible.”
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