October 20, 2023

Excited chants and screams bellowed throughout the gym on September 29 as Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School students brought their Nighthawk spirit to their divisional pep rallies. In the Lower School, students learned several chants (that they later used at the Homecoming volleyball games!), and got to cheer with the Nighthawk. In the Middle and Upper School, students competed against one another in various races: wheeling from one end of the court to the other on a scooter using a toilet plunger, a doughnut eating competition (hung from hockey sticks), and a whipped cream eating contest.

While the evening soccer game was rained out and rescheduled, no amount of downpour could wash away the community’s Homecoming spirit. On Saturday, September 30, students, families, alumnae, and professional community members came together on 92nd Street for a fun-filled day complete with delicious food trucks, a photo booth, general store shopping, face painting, hair painting, a DJ, and JV/varsity volleyball games.

Reflecting on the JV volleyball game, co-captain Eveline J-B. ’27 was proud of the team’s communication and energy throughout the close match.

“It was really encouraging to have such a big crowd come and watch us. We really appreciated the support and it made the game even more enjoyable,” she said. “The Nighthawk spirit in the Schoolhouse was unparalleled, there was so much enthusiasm and excitement for all the events going on.”

Director of Athletics and Physical Education Mandy Cecil shared: “The support from the entire community could be seen, felt and heard throughout the building. Athletics really prides itself on being a community-building arena and this was evident in each of our homecoming events.”

Reflecting on the day, Ms. Cecil said she was most proud of the effort and determination displayed by Nightingale’s student athletes, and their “desire to compete and push themselves beyond barriers.”

On October 13, the Nightingale community cheered on varsity soccer as they took on Sacred Heart at Friday Night Lights at Randall’s Island. Following the game, students, families, and professional community members enjoyed Jiannetto's Pizza and Mr. Softee.

“I was most proud of how motivated the team stayed throughout the entire game, playing our hardest until the final whistle blew,” Zoey E. ’24, varsity soccer co-captain shared. “My favorite part of the experience was watching the beautiful sunset throughout the game. The Nighthawk spirit was loud! Cheering was constant from the bench and the stands.”

On October 16, varsity tennis played valiantly as they faced off against Packer at the Columbia Athletic Facilities.

“Inspired by an enthusiastic crowd of parents, ProCom, and JV volleyball players, the varsity tennis team won the match 5-0,” varsity tennis co-captain Lillian G. ’25 said. “It was a great team effort. We had lots of fun—and cupcakes!”

On October 26, community members gathered at Central Park in the afternoon for the long-awaited Students and ProCom Mile Relay Race. In the weeks leading up to homecoming, students found creative ways to ask ProCom to run with them, including making special signs. With wristlets to identify each team, student athletes and ProCom ran strong. The Yellow Team—Alexa C. ’27, Katherine H. ’27, Mr. Goede, and Dr. Dakouras—took the lead and won first place.

Now in her final year at Nightingale, varsity volleyball player Grace S. ’24 shared: “I look forward to returning to Nightingale during Homecoming to cheer on [the varsity volleyball team] and witness their success from the stands. I have complete faith that the team will continue to improve every year and I am excited to watch their accomplishments.”