Strake freshmen traditional head-shaving event

Freshman Trevor Schneider gets his head shaved. (Photo: Ray Che)

One of the most exciting times to be a Strake Jesuit Crusader is the annual football game against our rivals, the St. Thomas Eagles, and the school week leading up to it. The week of the Strake Jesuit vs. St. Thomas rivalry football game, known as Spirit Week, consists of various fun activities that get students excited for the big game.

These activities include “Hawaiian Shirt Thursday” and a student-led rap battle during a pep rally. All these exciting events make Spirit Week great, but Spirit Week is nothing without one unique tradition: freshmen head-shaving.

The tradition of freshmen haircuts sets Strake Jesuit apart from other high schools when it comes to traditions. Each year, seniors whose heads were shaved when they were freshmen shave the freshmen’s heads. Haircuts are not required, but most freshmen choose to participate in this fun ceremony.

This year, not only the freshmen took part in this tradition, but many faculty members, including the dean of students and members of the senior student council also shaved their heads. Strengthening the fraternal bond between students, this tradition unites the freshmen class and allows for some appropriate and supervised teasing of freshmen.

Freshmen look forward to their senior year when they will be the ones giving the haircut, rather than receiving. The haircuts, along with all the other Spirit Week activities, serve to increase school spirit for the Strake Jesuit vs. St. Thomas game.