By Erin Kooser

The Panther’s Tale

Derby High School has decided to start a new tradition where the student body sings the Alma Mater after every home football game. Students sing as the band plays the tune for our school.

Mr. Baldwin went to Mr Hamblin to see if the school should try to reinstate this tradition again.

“It was him and Hamblin who were working together to get it back,” assistant principal Mr Moore said.

With the return of this tradition the big push, is for everyone to actually know the words to of the song. One of the reasons singing the Alma Mater disappeared from the graduation ceremonies was because not everyone knew the words. Baldwin thought the best way to bring it back to the graduation ceremony was to get students to sing it more than once a year.

“If you continue to do it over and over and over again, you’ll eventually learn it.” Baldwin said

Students all gathering together to sing this song after each game has left an impact on more than the administration. Baldwin says it’s great to see Derby alumni react so well to the students coming together and singing the alma mater.

Though not everyone knows the words yet, bringing the alma mater back is a step to make this a Derby High School tradition again at graduation.

“Last Friday is what we kind of hoped for — the team went over there and everyone kind of swayed and got together, whether they knew the words or not, they just kind of hummed it. But it looked great.” Baldwin said about the Panthers’ first football game on Sept. 2.

So remember, after the game students are encouraged to just sing the first verse and chorus, which are below:

Let us sing of Derby High School, Loud her praises ring.

For she makes our lives more useful, Blessings to us bring.

D.H.S Derby we love thee, Deep-rooted in each heart.

Lie the bonds of true affection, Never to depart.
You can find the full song in your Derby High School planner on page 37.