Published: January 09, 2008 10:42 pm            

PHOTO GALLERY: Colts Rally at Western

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RUSSIAVILLE — Western Middle School temporarily changed its school colors from black and red to blue and white Wednesday, to host an Indianapolis Colts playoff rally with Blue, the team’s mascot.

Blue lights lined the sidewalk leading to the school’s front door. Inside, students had hung handmade posters urging the Colts to a playoff victory Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

A sea of blue and white filled the school auditorium, with teachers and students wearing Colts’ jerseys, sweatshirts and T-shirts, along with blue-and-white wigs, a football mask and other gear, all cheering along with Blue.

However, the rally was about more than cheering for the Colts — it was about cheering the students’ community service efforts and reminding them to take pride in themselves.

Colts cheerleaders turned letters on easels to reveal the letters PRIDE, standing for physical fitness, respect, intelligent decisions, diet and education. Andy Stayer, mascot program assistant, led students in a pledge to be physically fit, respect everyone, make intelligent decisions every day, have a healthy diet and get a good education, and also to have pride in themselves every day.

Stephanie Mathes, Colts community relations coordinator, said the school was chosen for the rally because it was state runner-up in the Colts Young Playmaker Challenge, a contest sponsored by the team and American Family Insurance to encourage middle school students to volunteer in their communities.

“We knew we had a lot of Colts fans here. It’s been a great success,” Mathes said.

Western sixth-graders collected clothing, toiletries, laundry and a mountain of toilet paper to donate to the Salvation Army for their project, according to teachers Kay Lazar and Matt Nuss.

Nuss said he hopes students learned that it is important to give back to their community and that “regardless of where you live, there’s always someone in need.”

Lazar said students also brought about 2,000 books to the rally for the Colts to donate to its literacy foundation. She was pleased by the educational focus of the rally.

It was also a great kick off to the school’s Read Across America program, she said.

Seventh-graders Katee Chandler and Laura Christopher were impressed by how much the sixth-graders did to earn the rally for their school.

“I like how our school is getting involved in the community,” Christopher said.

Chandler said having Blue visit was the best part of the rally.

“I loved his hips,” she giggled, and how he danced and wagged his behind at the one person identified as a Chargers fan.

Danielle Rule, the local American Family Insurance agent who invited the students to participate, was pleased by how enthusiastic the students were about volunteering, and that they did so well.

“Giving back to the community through volunteering was what we were proud of. The rally was just the icing on the cake.”

        

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