From cozy pajamas and creative teacher-inspired outfits to grade-level sports matchups and spirited lunchtime challenges, D-E’s Spirit Week 2026 brought students together for a week of fun, friendly competition, and community pride.
In the Upper School, Spirit Week was organized by the Office of Student Activities and Student Life Initiative. Each day featured a different theme, inviting students, as well as faculty/staff, to show off their creativity and school spirit. Monday kicked off with Pajama Day, followed by Students Dress as Teachers on Tuesday, Jersey Day on Wednesday, Denim Day on Thursday, and D-E Spirit Day on Friday, when students showed their pride wearing Bulldog merch or blue and gold.
Upper School students competed for grade-level bragging rights through these advisory-based clothing competitions. They earned points for participating in each theme day, with bonus points awarded when advisors joined in.
In the Middle School, students participated in the dress-up days, also earning points for their advisories, and capped off the week with a pep rally. Lower School students, meanwhile, participated in PJ Day, Jersey Day, and D-E Spirit Day.
Lunchtime brought another round of spirited competition for Upper School students on Leggett Field. Students volunteered to represent their grades in soccer matchups, followed by a championship game between the winners (won by the Juniors).
Halftime challenges added to the fun, with students participating in Chubby Bunny, a water balloon toss, and Donut on a String. A Math Challenge (won by the Seniors) and a game of Flag Tag (won by the Juniors) rounded out the week’s activities.
Beyond the games and themed outfits, Spirit Week also offered an opportunity for students to make a difference beyond campus. Through Coin Wars, 9th through 12th graders competed to collect funds for the Center for Food Action, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and homelessness in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Organized by Student Government in partnership with the student organization CODES, the fundraiser challenged grades to collect the most points while supporting this worthy cause. By the end of the week, the Sophomores came out on top, and the D-E community collectively raised more than $5,200 for the CFA!
The week culminated for the Upper School in a Spirit Week Assembly on Thursday, including an exciting volleyball tournament (won by the Seniors) and the halftime Box Stacking Challenge (won by the Sophomores). The Closing Assembly on Friday brought the division together again to celebrate the week’s school pride with a series of crowd-pleasing games, such as Hungry Hippos, Categories, Chariot Race Relay, and Musical Chairs. In the end, the Spirit Week trophy was handed to… the Class of 2027!
The pep rally was a perfect segue for the student “March to Solomon” at the end of the school day to watch the Girls and Boys Soccer Teams, respectively, compete on the field. Later that evening, students in Grades 9 through 12 stepped into the spotlight at Homecoming, affectionately known as HOCO, for a Hollywood-themed night of dancing, celebration, and connection.
With creative dress-up days, spirited competitions, student-led activities, and a fundraiser supporting a vital community organization, Spirit Week 2026 showcased what makes the D-E community special: coming together, supporting one another, and making a difference—while having plenty of fun along the way.
