Two Teams One NCS
Purple or Gold?
Ask any member of the NCS community, from a 4th Grade student to an alumna celebrating a 50th Reunion, and they will eagerly tell you where their loyalty lies. They will also fondly recall Spirit Day, when the Purple and Gold teams engage in a day of fun activities.
Spirit
Day has its roots in 1930, starting as field day activities for Upper School students. By 1972, the event expanded to include Grades 4 through 8. By 1989, it became the Spirit Day we know and love—when the NCS community comes together to celebrate teams Purple and Gold.
Nowadays, Spirit Day is held on a Friday at the end of September and kicks off a friendly yearlong rivalry between the two teams, with the winner announced at Flag Day in June.
Spirit Day 2024 featured all the elements that have become traditions, including a Spirit Week lead-up with daily themes such as
“Minion Monday” and “Wildlife Wednesday.” Spirit Day itself featured students, faculty, and staff decked out in their colors, crossdivisional bonding activities, an energetic and rousing scream-off, games like dodgeball and musical chairs, and skits and performances for Middle and Upper Schoolers in the Athletic Center. The Day culminated in the annual senior theme reveal: The Class of 2025 is REVOLUTIONARY!
Shaped by Students
“At Spirit Day, the Upper School students showcase their leadership skills,” says Dean of Student Life Ivette Bohlen. “Their ability to connect with the younger students is on
full display.” Athletic Board President Maggie Y. ’25, designed and implemented a Spirit Day plan, organizing seniors to lead the games and activities in Grades 8 through 12. In the morning, Upper and Lower School homerooms participated in joint community-building activities.
For seniors, Spirit Day is a chance to set the tone for the year. Working alongside Athletic Director Heather Dent and the Athletics Department, the Class of 2025 coordinated outdoor games, led color team entrances and chants, and brought energy to each event. The seniors’ commitment to making Spirit Day meaningful and fun encourages younger students to participate wholeheartedly, knowing they too have a role to play. “Our job was to make Spirit Day a fun and fair day, and we set an example for other Grades to follow,” says Ana P. ’25, a Purple team captain.
A Unifying Rivalry
While Spirit Day may feature competitions between Purple and Gold, at its core, the event brings everyone together in the name of NCS pride. The joy, excitement, and positive energy are palpable, as all members of the community
enjoy the camaraderie, the opportunity to connect with each other, and root for NCS. Maggie Y. says, “It’s all about unity, coming together as different Grades… even though it’s a competition, everyone has so much fun, and everyone’s just supporting each other.”
Gabby G. ’26 says, “What makes Spirit Day an important tradition is everyone coming together and showing spirit for the school. Even if it’s sort of divided, there’s kind of this unity in it.”
The NCS alumnae community also celebrates Spirit Week, as the Development Office runs a week-long Purple vs. Gold Alumnae Giving Challenge. Throughout the week, alumnae from each team compete for the most dollars raised and the highest number of donors. The winner of each category unlocks points for the students’ Purple and/or Gold team(s). For the second year in a row, Purple won both donor and dollar count!
Upper School students, in 1967, enjoying Field Day, which would later become Spirit Day in 1989.
“It’s all about unity, coming together as different Grades… even though it’s a competition, everyone has so much fun, and everyone’s just supporting each other.”
—Maggie Y. ’25
“The Purple vs. Gold Alumnae Giving Challenge was introduced in fall 2023 as a way to include our alumnae in NCS’s Spirit Week festivities,” says Director of Alumnae Relations Chloe Cogo. “No matter where alumnae are, they can join in on the friendly competition, display school pride, and share in the joy of the week by participating in the Challenge. In its second year, the Challenge raised over $140,000—nearly doubling what we raised in 2023. These dollars will be put to work this year for the benefit of every Eagle!”
Senior Leadership
While Spirit Day has evolved over the years, many elements of the day represent longstanding NCS traditions. When the Class of 2025 revealed its theme, REVOLUTIONARY, it was continuing a practice that started 40 years ago with the senior class choosing a theme.
Students can chart their own growth and development through their Spirit Day roles over the years. Gold team co-captain Daphne L. ’25 recalls, “In our early years, we were paired with older homerooms, learning from more experienced students. Middle School brought the excitement of watching skits, sparking my anticipation to participate. In Upper School, roles reversed as we led icebreakers and fun activities for younger students.” She says, “Finally, as seniors, we took charge of skits and field activities, completing the cycle of mentorship and leadership.”
The Spirit of Spirit Day
An important NCS tradition, Spirit Day is an essential part of the NCS experience and demonstrates the community’s vibrancy. Students take on positions of increasing responsibility as they move through their NCS years, with Upper School students mentoring and modeling behavior for the younger students. Like Cathedral services, Spirit Day brings the entire school community together and provides an opportunity for celebration and reflection.
Each year during Spirit Week, the community gathers in the All Hallows Amphitheater for an all-school Cathedral service. This year, Athletic Board President Maggie Y. ’25 was one homilist to offer thoughts of what spirit means to this community. She said, “Spirit believes in the future and brings hope. It comes from a love of the game, a team, a school, and a love for the people around you.”