The RHS community is now entering its favorite time of year: LM Week. The rivalry between Radnor and LM is legendary, long-lasting, and continues to excite students year after year. But it has transformed over the years to become the theme week, pep rally, and game we know today. Let’s look back at LM times of the past, when some of our current Radnor teachers used to attend this very high school.
Back in the late 1960s, most traditions were focused solely on the football game. As usual, it was the crux of the season, the biggest game of the year. “All the boys say you can redeem the season if you win the game,” Mrs. Reardon, a Radnor student back then, remarked. She and other students loved attending not only the game, but also the renowned pep rally. However, this event was quite different from what we might picture today. The band still did its usual parade around the school, picking up students, but they performed in the rally as well.
A former cheerleader herself, Mrs. Reardon enjoyed planning and performing in the rally. She recalled a theme one year, “Footsteps of a Giant,” centered around football great Emlen Tunnell. Memorialized as part of Radnor’s Hall of Fame, Tunnell played for our school and eventually earned a spot on the New York Giants’ defense, the first African American person to do so. He went on to become the first African American football player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Years later, a well-loved LM theme celebrated his story and accomplishments as a nod to his memoir, Footsteps of a Giant.
Later, during the 1980s and 90s, the traditions picked up speed. There were no themes or fun costumes, but the pep rally grew in fame. Both Mr. King and Mr. Wright, who were Radnor students in the 80s, acknowledged that in terms of LM traditions, the pep rally was a big deal. Mr. King described the rally as fun and exciting, and he enjoyed cheering on the football team. In addition to the usual football and cheer focus, the rally also began to feature a few new acts and dances. Mr. Wright recalled a male cheerleader performance, something that sounds incredibly amusing to watch! The rally also starred some male teachers in the classic “Toads” dance, a tradition that never fails to excite students to this day. In fact, Mr. King has fond memories of this dance, both watching it as a student as well as participating himself!
Another component of the rally that differs from today’s traditions involves alumni. Some recent Radnor graduates and/or football players would send letters to wish the team good luck, and they would be read to the student body at the rally. And though posters did not adorn every wall like they do today, gym windows were covered in black paper, adding a thrilling effect to the performance.
Unfortunately, neither Mr. King nor Mr. Wright experienced the glorious half day that comes with a football team win. However, Mr. Wright remembers how his younger brother called with the great news that they finally got a win – but only after he graduated!His long-awaited half day had to wait until he came back to teach, many years later. On the other hand, both Mr. Capone and Mr. Shilcock-Elliott, who attended Radnor in the 90s, recall a few football victories from their time as students. Mr. Shilcock-Elliott played as a kicker his senior year, and helped bring the trophy back to Radnor.
By the early 2000s and 2010s, not just the rally but the entire concept of LM week had gained much more fanfare and popularity. Themes and spirit days were implemented, which only helped increase the hype. Both Ms. Console, a 2010s Radnor student, and Mr. DiSipio, a 2000s Radnor student, fondly recall the tradition of pajama day on Mondays (which is not implemented now but certainly sounds fun!). Ms. Console avidly described one of her favorite outfits, a colorful sequined 80s jacket that she wore to support the theme of iTunes – a theme not so different from our own this year!
Back in the 2000s, LM Week involved not one football game but two! Of course, all traditions revolved around the big game, during which Ms. Console and Ms. Katz witnessed many wins, earning them what Ms. Katz, another 2000s Radnor student, proclaimed to be a “much-needed half day”. Mr. DiSipio, a former member of the football team, played in the game from his sophomore to his senior year, during which the team won all three years. (He went on to coach for another 25 years and counting, and has only lost twice so far.) Not only did students play football, but so did some teachers! Earlier in the week, a student versus faculty game of flag football would take place as well. Potential idea to bring back next year?
The pep rally had grown, too, almost to the size it is today. As students, Ms. Katz and Ms. Console both immediately loved the concept and were involved in it every year. As teachers, they continue to do so! The rally included the familiar senior dances and partner dance, as well as various other acts involving the student body. Ms. Console mentioned a dancing group called “ravers” whose colorful flashing lights really hyped up the crowd. The classic male and female teacher dances were in full swing as well, and you will find both Ms. Katz and Ms. Console as well as Mr. DiSipio in this year’s Radnor Sisters and Toads dances!
In addition to all of these activities, Radnor hosted two fall dances: an LM dance, similar to today’s, and a separate homecoming dance. The LM dance was reported to be the more formal event, while homecoming took place on a different week and called for more casual attire. However, while Ms. Katz and Ms. Console attended Radnor, the dance contract was introduced, which turned many students away from these dances. Ms. Console remarks that no one went her senior year because it was “considered lame”.
Since the rivalry first began back in 1897, LM-based traditions here at Radnor have changed a lot to form the theme week we now know and love. We started off with a small rally to cheer on the football team, and this week, we are excited to boast a fully decorated school with painted posters running wall to wall, fully coordinated theme days, and what Mr. Capone calls a “pep rally on steroids”. But at the center of it all, from day one, has been the Radnor community.
When asked what they appreciate about LM Week and its traditions, every single teacher’s response was that they loved how much it brought the whole student body together. Mrs. Reardon pointed out that it’s the only event all year that includes every single student, and there’s nothing else like it. Mr. Shilcock-Elliott agreed, adding that the celebration’s uniqueness makes it a special part of the Radnor culture. Ms. Console emphasized that she loves how everyone gets together during the rally to appreciate one another and their interests, and all students get involved.
The energy and enthusiasm today’s rally brings out in students is like no other Radnor event. The whole community gets together to support each other and the football team, and it resonates throughout the student body. That’s really what the spirit of LM Week is all about.
