Last Friday was the first rally of the school year, welcoming back old students and introducing the freshmen to Ukiah High spirit. Throughout the rally, Wildcats competed in fun games, saw some amazing performances, and heard an inspiring welcome-back speech from our principal, Mr. Riedel.
To start off the rally, students from each class volunteered to play a Tic-Tac-Toe Relay Race. In the end, seniors took the first win of the year.
The second game of the morning was Musical Dots. Similar to Musical Chairs, students competed to get to each dot in time before the music stopped. There was excitement in the crowd as it was a close call between the sophomore and senior classes. Ultimately, the seniors took another win.
A highlight from the rally was a performance from our Golden Cats Dance Team. The Golden Cats performed to music from Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl Half-Time show. Students in the audience cheered for their friends and classmates throughout the dance, bringing a supportive energy to the rally. At the end, the Golden Cats held up a sign welcoming our new Principal, Mr. Riedel, to Ukiah High.
Guess the Price was another collaborative activity. Class representatives received input from their classmates in the bleachers to correctly guess the price of an item. A price that stumped most was the cotton candy machine, reaching up to a costly $200.
The rally introduced Wildcats to a new game: the Magic Blanket Ride. This was another relay, but without using legs! Participants had to use blankets to drag each other across the gym floor instead. Students were excited to cheer on their fellow classmates during this race.
To conclude the rally, Mr. Riedel shared a few words with the student body by emphasizing the importance of getting involved in something on campus. Whether it’s through a club, leadership, or a sport, he hopes that all students will find a place where they feel like they belong.
Thank you, Wildcat Nation, for such an upbeat start to the year. See you at the next rally!
Josette Mealey
Josette Mealey is currently a senior attending Ukiah High School. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, playing video games, and reading about the world around her. Originally from Decatur, Illinois, Josette has loved the unique feel of Ukiah since she was six years old. In recent years, she has become interested in local politics and is an active member of her school and community. She is currently the president of the French Club, vice president of the Women’s Empowerment Club, and plays #4 singles for the Girls Tennis Team. This is her second year writing for UHS News.
Paisley Wood
Paisley Wood is a junior taking her first year of Journalism. She currently lives in Ukiah but was born in Missouri. Her hobbies are writing poetry, art, and playing the guitar. Her favorite subjects are creative writing, math, and history. In her free time, she loves hanging out with her friends and traveling to new places. After she graduates, she wants to either go to beauty school or college and get a teaching license.
Sarae Lorenzo
Sarae Lorenzo is a junior taking her first-ever journalism class! She grew up in Fort Bragg, lived there for 10 years, and later moved to Redwood Valley. Sarae takes an interest in many subjects, such as art, English, history, and any class involving writing. She has numerous hobbies, including swimming, hanging out with her friends, traveling, and baking. After high school, she hopes to get into beauty school or go to college for a Psychology degree.