On Tuesday, October 31, the Tigers attended one of NDB’s most attended rallies of the year, the Dingbat Day rally. Prior to the rally, students dressed up for four spirit days and were reminded of how this tradition originated.
According to an email from English teacher and alumna Peggy Brady ‘67, the Dingbat Day rally came about in October of 1976 and was celebrated as an evening event where students and faculty would return back to school in their costumes.
The earliest publication of this beloved tradition is in NDB’s 1977 edition of the Tower yearbook, which showed that the tradition started as “DING-BAT NIGHT” and eventually continued to serve a full week of fun-filled amusement for students.
But, Dingbat Day was not always accompanied by a week filled with events. It has evolved from its singular Dingbat Night. Brady writes, in the 80s, when she served as Director of Activities, was when the five spirit days and costume contest were implemented.
“Every year, this tradition becomes personalized by [NDB’s] student leaders,” stated Brady.
She explained that the wide variety of categories for the annual costume contest allows for many fond memories and themes to be captured and put in the yearbook to later be reminisced by alumnae, future students and staffulty.
Associate Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction and alumna Jolanda Breazeale ‘86 recounted her own memories of the day as a student and more notably as a teacher.
“When I was here as a teacher, I remember the homerooms trying to dress up as themes together,” said Breazeale.
She also recounts teachers always having “major costumes,” a practice that NDB sees continued today as the student body anticipates the theme of the teacher costume each year.
English teacher and alumna Sarah Boragno ’02 thought back on her time as an ASB member, participating in the Dingbat Rally and recounting her spirit week. She explained that, rather than a video, the rally incorporated live dances from different ASB and faculty members, along with the traditional games NDB participates in today.
“That year, we had – my ASB year – faculty dancing the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ [dance],” said Boragno, also recalling many of her classmates dressing up as trendy celebrities, like Jennifer Lopez, Carmen Miranda and Michael Jackson.
As a teacher, Boragno enjoys the energy that NDB carries during the rally and how each class puts out their best effort for a chance to win.
“I think the way you guys do rallies with intense energy … it’s not normal. [It’s] an NDB thing for sure,” said Boragno. “The lights out. The colors. The way the whole atmosphere of the gym … [shows] everyone is involved in the rally.”
The week leading up to the Dingbat Day rally is a great way for students to express their creativity and dress up alongside staffulty, friends, and their sister classes.
As NDB makes its way towards celebrating its 47th Dingbat Day, we look back on the traditions and events that initiated this beloved holiday tradition.
