Trojan Olympics – a Spotlight on the Heart of Milpitas High School

What is at the heart of Milpitas High School? Our students, staff and parents! Their care for one another filled the gym amidst the colorful cheering and fanfare at the MHS Trojan Olympics on Friday, March 31. My husband and I were captivated the moment the student dancers charged into the gym greeted by waves of color that adorned their classmates.

While the freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors were dressed in their corresponding class colors of purple, maroon, orange, and pink, the mix of the four represented the vibrant joy that emanated among our students that night. While each class was competing for first place in the games, they never overlooked their connections to one another. 

The frozen T-shirt contest showcased their desire to see one another succeed. The senior competitor was the first to unfurl her frozen shirt that she took from the ice chest. But rather than go to the sidelines to bask in her accomplishment, she charged over to coach the other three contestants. The freshman was the last to decipher the technique of stretching out frozen T-shirts, and her success was the result of the other three standing around her demonstrating how to pull the cemented folds apart. They hoisted her up in victory, the disheartened look of panic she displayed earlier gave way to a triumphant smile. They succeeded as one team.    
I noticed too this same sense of connection and love for our school on the faces of our staff and parents. I watched the expressions of an English and P.E. teacher standing by the sophomores. Their hearts were with the kids, they were grinning and completely in the moment. A social studies teacher crouching on the floor by the juniors had an expression of admiration for our kids as he watched them struggle with the frozen shirts. In the freshman stand, an English teacher bounced back and forth between cheering on his students and sharing his delight with his wife. In the senior stands I saw parents whose expressions were mixed with pride and at times a sense of sadness as they realized this would be the last Trojan Olympics in which they would see their children competing as one with their MHS peers.

As I walked away from the event I knew this would not be my last, and I am sure that many of those senior parents had the same thought. This was a night that brought us together to witness the camaraderie and spirit that makes MHS the grand school it is. It is about WE doing and being together for our kids.

---