Prexies kick off school year with annual pep rally
Washington School District formally dedicated its new synthetic turf football field Friday at its seventh annual Prexie Community Rally, marking the start of the 2015-16 school year and the completion of a roughly $925,000 stadium renovation project.
Community members, students, teachers, administrators and alumni turned out to cheer on members of the elementary, middle and high school sports teams, cheerleading squads and band and to walk on the gleaming ProGrass synthetic turf surface, which features a 20-foot-long Columbia blue and black Prexies script logo at midfield.
“What a great night for the community,” said Dr. Roberta DiLorenzo, district superintendent. “This is always a great night. We do it every year, and it’s always uplifting to start the school year very positively. Everybody turns out. This was a special evening to rededicate the field.”
DiLorenzo asked the crowd to thank individuals, businesses and organizations who supported the renovation project “because they’ve done a lot for this district,” she said.
“Especially, thanks to you all,” DiLorenzo said. “You understand that over the years, it takes time, but our students deserve wonderful facilities. It takes time, money and support, and thank you so much for understanding that and providing that for our students.”
In addition to the new turf, new aluminum bleachers were installed, replacing wooden bleachers that were patched and refurbished for several years, the ironwork the bleachers rest on was sandblasted and repainted and the track was recoated.
DiLorenzo said renovation costs were funded from savings from the capital improvement funds for the renovation of Washington Junior-Senior High School and Washington Park Elementary School.
Last year, the Prexies went undefeated during the regular season and kick off this season Sept. 4. Their first home game played on the synthetic turf will be Sept. 11 against Burgettstown.
Janetta Ledbetter attended the rally and rededication with her five-year-old son, Eli Miller, who plays Little Prexies Youth Football and starts kindergarten Aug. 26.
“I think it was really nice. It’s something very positive for the school district and really promotes unity,” said Ledbetter.
Washington High School Band and Prexies cheerleading squads performed.
Hundreds of people stayed for the picnic that followed the rededication and rally and ate hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta salad and cake, which was provided by Krency’s Bakery.
Michelle Radachy, who teaches English as a Second Language at Washington, talked and laughed with students and members of the community as she deposited hot dogs into hot dog buns and stacked them in a foil pan.
“I think this is such a good way to get the community out and involved and to show that we’re all about the kids,” said Radachy.
The rally was organized by members of the school board’s activities committee.
The event has grown each year.
In 2008, about 30 people turned out for the first-ever rally.
“This is my 17th year,” said DiLorenzo, “and this is one of the most glorious times to be superintendent.”