We love a spirit week. But if you’re looking to spice up your school’s spirit week with something a little more mysterious and fun, consider going “underground”! Instead of the usual all-school participation, turn it into a guessing game with an underground spirit week.
What is an underground spirit week?
Some schools are calling them secret spirit weeks or undercover spirit weeks. But whatever you call them, the premise is the same. An “underground spirit week” is a school faculty-only celebration where teachers participate in themed dress-up days without the students knowing what’s going on, creating a sense of mystery and excitement as students try to guess the daily themes. Basically, it’s a spirit week where only the staff is aware of the planned activities.
Examples of what schools are doing
Want to see an underground spirit week in action? Here’s how some schools are rocking their secret teachers-only week.
Dress Like a P.E. Teacher Day
Teachers at this school arrived in workout clothes, tennis shoes, and rocking a whistle! Comfy and fun.
Blackout Day
This underground spirit week option is simple: all black everything!
Anything but a Cup Day
One of the most popular underground spirit week options, “Anything but a Cup” Day celebrates the underappreciated beverage vessels of the world. We love the Yeti logo on a mixing bowl in the video below.
Ideas for Your Underground Spirit Week
- Socks With Sandals Day—See how long it takes for students to notice that all of you are rocking this trend.
- Anything but a Cup Day—Instead of mugs or tumblers, teachers bring a bizarre vessel to drink from. Ideas we’ve seen include cereal boxes, vases with fake flowers, a blender, and a giant bowl. This one is a must for an underground spirit week!
- Temporary tattoos—We saw one school where the principal bought a ton of matching temporary tattoos and left them in the front office for teachers to apply. The students couldn’t believe their teachers got tattoos!
- Wear the same color—Many schools do a Blackout Day, which is easiest since most teachers own enough black clothing to wear all black.
- Wear monochromatic outfits—Instead of designating a single color, let teachers wear a matching set of whatever color they want.
- Dress like royalty—Crowns, tiaras, capes, scepters. Be ready to be treated like royalty for the day!
- Lumberjack Day—Everyone wears flannel or plaid, and maybe some go all out with suspenders!
- Denim on Denim Day—Today’s the day to break out your denim. ALL of your denim.
- Decades Day—Each teacher dresses up to represent their favorite decade! Teachers can wear their favorite ’80s band shirt, fluff out their bangs for the ’90s, or wear four layers of different-length shirts for the 2000s.
- Favorite holiday—Teachers dress up in their favorite holiday attire, whether that’s Halloween, Arbor Day, or National Croissant Day.
- Mismatched shoes—Wear two different shoes to school!
- Not Your Typical Hair Day—Most teachers wear their hair in one of a few hairstyles to work. Today’s the day to think outside the box with pigtails, a beehive, changing where you part your hair, or adding a fun accessory!
- School spirit shirts—The ease of this topic. Everyone already has one!
- Twin Day—Teachers can pair up or even coordinate by team/department.
Things to keep in mind for underground spirit week
Make sure teachers know to keep the theme a secret from students!
It’s no fun if you give away the punchline every day (or in advance).
Keep cost in mind for teachers.
Attention PTOs and principals: if you choose a theme with a VERY specific accessory in mind that teachers probably don’t have, provide it for them.
Consider the age of your students.
The obvious themes are fun for littles (e.g., dressing up like royalty), but consider going more subtle with older students. Here’s a sample schedule for elementary and secondary:
Don’t make the joke at someone else’s expense.
We don’t recommend a “Dress Like a Student” theme as it can veer into mocking students’ cultures, interests, and beliefs. And if you dress like a specific teacher or staff member on campus, be absolutely sure to have their willingness ahead of time. Honestly, there are so many other fun spirit week options that don’t risk making anyone feel ridiculed.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to try an underground spirit week at your school? Whether it’s donning the poodle skirt at the back of your closet for Decades Day or applying a temporary neck tattoo, don’t be afraid to embrace the challenge. After all, it’s a great way to boost school spirit, build connections with students, and remind everyone that teachers can be just as playful as the students we inspire.
Get an editable Underground Spirit Week flyer!
Once you settle on your underground spirit week ideas, check out our free editable templates by filling out the form at the link below. All you need to do is customize them with your own text and download them. Then you can print, email, or post on social media to promote your events.