Changing Bellevue Traditions

For years, Bellevue High assemblies followed an unwritten order: roll call with upperclassmen booing the freshmen, the classic drum-and-clap, and finally, seniors rushing the floor for a mosh. Underclassmen watched from the bleachers, already imagining their own turn to experience these traditions.

This year, that moment never came.

Moshing was banned, seniors were told to remain seated, and assemblies felt noticeably quieter. For Bellevue senior Brody Gayte, the change was especially dispiriting.

“It’s a shame to see Bellevue traditions starting to fade,” Gayte said. “I remember the first assembly of freshman year when my friends and I saw the seniors mosh pit, and we couldn’t wait for that to be us one day. We finally made it to senior year, and the school decided to ban it, which was incredibly disappointing.”

The loss of senior moshing is just one example of how Bellevue High’s culture has shifted. Student sections at games, once packed and energetic, are now often half full. Many students leave before halftime, sit quietly, or stand near the concession stands rather than filling the bleachers. What used to be a full student section has shrunk to one or two rows, sometimes outdone by parent sections. Spirit wear, face paint, and chants like “TRUCKING,” once expected, have become inconsistent, and outside of rivalry games, attendance continues to decline.

“The attendance from all grades at sports events is lower, making it difficult to continue spirit passed down by multiple graduating classes,” Gayte added.

School dances show an even clearer change. Many students aren’t aware of Winter Ball, once a recognizable event on the school calendar. TOLO, another long-standing tradition, was canceled last year after not enough students bought tickets.

Some students remember when school spirit felt unavoidable. Bellevue senior and ASB officer Sophie Kim recalls experiencing that energy as a freshman.

“Going to football games and seeing everyone on theme in creative outfits was amazing,” Kim said. “It made you feel like you were part of something bigger.”

She credits that energy to strong student leadership at the time, recalling class officers who made spirit visible and fun like the class of 2024’s Kit Pujol and 2023’s Ethan Park. Over time, however, priorities shifted.

“Academics and sports have taken precedence, which is valid,” she said, “but it’s still sad to see spirit become an afterthought.”

Increased safety regulations and the lingering effects of COVID have also changed how schools operate. Traditions that once felt spontaneous are now more closely monitored, and habits disrupted during remote learning were never fully rebuilt.

Bellevue High hasn’t lost its identity, it’s evolving. Traditions fade when fewer people show up to keep them alive. As spirit shifts into academics, athletics, and extracurriculars, students still have the opportunity to bring that same energy back by choosing to show up and carry Bellevue spirit forward such as participating in blue and gold Fridays, attending sporting events, and hyping up spirit weeks!