On August 17, 2026, Costa Mesa Middle and High School held the first rally of the 2026–2027 school year. The rally had a western theme for both middle and high school and was designed to welcome students into the new school year. Excitement grew as students filled the gym while representing their classes. Students were ready to start the school year with fun games, activities, and performances.
This school year started a little differently from previous years. Usually, classes begin at 8:55 a.m. on the first day of school, but this year they started at 9:10 a.m. Because of the rally, some classes were only about 15–18 minutes long.
We asked Mrs. Delzer about the change in the schedule, and she explained, “We decided to start school later because it allows the teachers to have more time in the morning for professional teacher development. We were also one of the only schools that didn’t start at 9:10.”
We also asked students what they thought about the new schedule and the first-day rally. Many students said it was a weird experience to start classes later and then attend a rally on the first day.
In my opinion, having a welcome rally on the first day of school may not have been the best idea. I think this because it can be overwhelming for new students, and it can be a lot to experience on the first day. I didn’t like that some of the classes felt rushed and that we didn’t get proper introductions. However, I do think the rally was a good way to set an upbeat tone for the new school year, whether you’re a freshman or a senior.
Mrs. Delzer explained why the school decided to have the rally on the first day: “We wanted to start the first day of school in a completely different way. We wanted to bring the energy and bring the hype on day one. We wanted to get the students excited for school with something fun and different.”
Preparing for the Rally
CMMHS doesn’t usually have a rally on the first day of school, which meant ASB had to spend part of their summer preparing. They created posters, planned activities, and worked to make sure the rally would be fun and enjoyable for students.
“Coming to school during the summer to prepare for the rally was very intense. We came to school at 8:30 and then stayed until after lunchtime, and after that I had to go to practice. They were very long days,” said sophomore vice president Nora Brown.
We also asked ASB Spirit Commissioner Jillian Guevarra what it was like coming to school during the summer.
“It was very tiring and hot. Make sure to stay hydrated during this hot weather,” she said.
Jillan also talked about her experience preparing for the rally. “The most exciting part about planning the rally was thinking of themes and making posters with my friends. The hardest part of planning the rally was finding and getting the needed materials for the rally.”
According to Jillian, ASB came up with the western theme after getting inspiration from other schools.
We also interviewed Nora Brown about the process of setting up for the rally. She said, “The most exciting part of planning the rally was coming up with all the games, creating all the posters/rally signs, and seeing the final results.”
Nora said the hardest part was deciding on a theme and completing all the work within a short period of time. “The hardest part was probably deciding on a theme and how much work we have to do in a time span of 2–3 weeks,” she said.
ASB comes up with rally themes by talking with each other and looking at social media pages from other schools for inspiration.
Rally Day
During the rally, ASB put together many fun games and activities, including musical chairs and other creative games they came up with themselves. Before the rally began, a DJ performed different songs and helped create an exciting atmosphere for students.
Unfortunately, the DJ blew the sound system, which caused problems with the technology ASB had prepared. Videos and instructions that were supposed to be shown during the rally could not be played. ASB had worked hard to create these videos, which featured information about football games and upcoming school events. Although the videos could not be shown, ASB did a good job adapting and continuing with the rally.
Students also got to see several performances throughout the rally. The dance team performed, and ASB members joined together for a line dance. During the middle school rally, students also got to see performances from the CMMS cheerleaders.
Although the first-day rally was different from what students at CMMHS are used to, it gave the school year an energetic beginning. Between the western theme, games, performances, and school spirit, ASB worked hard to create an exciting experience for students. Even with a few technical difficulties, the rally brought students together and helped kick off the 2026–2027 school year in a memorable way.
If you are interested in seeing the videos ASB prepared for the rally, you can check the CMHS ASB Instagram page.
