Rock ’N’ Roll takes center stage, SOK Week

October 29, 2026

Seniors Layton Snyder and Blair Strachan dress up in rockin roll attire for SOK week, leading up to the St. John’s game. The two admire the SOK wall, decorated by the SOK club. “It’s great seeing the individuality of each SOK wall come to life,” said Snyder.

The Spirit of Kinkaid Club, or SOK, works on the preparation for SOK Week, a school-wide event that gets students pumped up for the football games and upcoming Kinkaid athletic events before school starts.

“We immediately began brainstorming a theme that would reflect our creativity and the club as a whole,” said SOK co-president and senior Layton Snyder.

This year, SOK members decided on the theme Rock ‘N’ Roll, which was used on locker signs, hallway signs and banners.

“The whole point of SOK Week is to get Upper School students excited about the rivalry game against St. John’s while celebrating fall athletes,” Snyder said. “It is always rewarding to see the athletes find themselves on their respective walls and know that their hard work is being recognized.

SOK has a legacy of approximately 52 years.

According to Kinkaid’s archivist and librarian Mr. John Rovell, SOK was created in 1974 by alumni Chaille Winston and Kim Warren and has continued to lead SOK Week to this day. Some of SOK’S other responsibilities include deciding the themes for the student section for every football game.

The student section has become electric as students come dressed according to each game’s selected theme.

“Whenever you make a good play, the student section is there to make you feel appreciated and keep the energy high,” said senior running back Wayne Shanks Jr.

To help lead the student section, yell leaders in the 11th and 12th grades have helped take charge of school spirit. Selected by the cheer team, yell leaders lead chants and help engage students throughout the game.

“My favorite part of leading the student section is that I get to stand in the very front and help cheer the loudest,” said junior yell leader Max Leiman. “I try to get the crowd involved as often as I can to help motivate the football team.”

Leiman’s enthusiasm has epitomized what SOK has hoped to bring to the study body.

“I didn’t even know if this job was for me, but it chose me, and now I feel like it’s my calling to bring energy and spirit to every game,” Leiman said.

Students seem to appreciate all the energy SOK and yell leaders bring to the high school.

“It’s fun to see everyone come together and cheer on our school team and mascot,” said sophomore Billy Dinerstein.