Shorewood's Back-to-School Tradition
In the village, the long-time tradition of high school seniors' decorating the homes of incoming freshmen is an initiation — in toilet paper.
The tradition is timeless.
Unlike many rituals that Shorewood High School students used to do that are fading away, the practice of seniors and sports teammates toilet papering freshman homes has stood the test of time. Meant as a testament of comaraderie, the early crunch of leaves blends with the sunny breeze of lightweight streamers dangling from the trees.
Not limited to sports in Shorewood, any freshman is fair game to the friendly sport of the drape and roll.
This rite of passage in Shorewood sometimes comes as a surprise for families not steeped in Shorewood tradition. But rest assured, it is an act bestowed upon the incoming crew by an affectionate upper class.
The sentiment is, "Welcome, young freshmen, this is going to be a wild ride! Welcome to the club."
Other traditions in Shorewood used to ring in the new year with sound and cheers but those have faded away (or been rendered dangerous and/or illegal).
For many years, the good people of Shorewood would awaken to and some would take their coffee outside to hear the exhuberant honking of cars, as all the seniors in the class packed themselves into vehicles and circled the district and commenced in audible whooping. This practice has been outlawed, but there was something that made me at least smile inside to hear the excitement of so many teens all at once, up early, and excited about the first day of school.
Another tradition that has gone but may return is the ceremonial putting on and subsequent wearing of the Shorewood dink. This tradition ended in about 1993 (someone commenting on Patch will likley correct me if I am wrong), along with the frequency of student-run in-school assemblies.
At the first assembly of the year, freshman watched in newbie awe as seniors were told the infectious and golden words, "Seniors, don your dinks!" and in unison stood, put on the red beannies with grey 'S' stitched to the front, and sat back down. Many freshmen in that moment learned a lot about Shorewood — it has a grand auditorium, it has traditions, and it has class.
Assemblies were something that brought together the student body almost weekly in the 50's through 70's, and tapered off in the 80's and 90's. Today, there are no regular assemblies and they are not scripted by students. David Zucker, SHS Alumnus, has said that he honed his craft (and figured out how to dodge censors) by preparing material for many student assemblies.
"Most of my material for Kentucky Fried Movie was written as we walked to school," he said, "then tested for real at assembly."
From a long-time Shorewood resident who raised three kids and has a third generation growing up Shorewood, Jane Gebel Prentice said, "For me, I love the Shorewood traditions, even the TPing of trees, though I know that's frowned upon."
"I miss the days that the SHS marching band would parade down Murray Avenue, and the seniors would drive their cars around the village early on the first day."
Those traditions have been lost, but the affordable paper streamers remain.
"It's so important," said Jennifer Kringel, SHS Alumnae and teacher at a nearby district, referring to the tradition of the TP. "It is something special, very visible, and kind of sneaky but full of an 'insider' feeling. I hope people realize how important self-initiated school traditions like this are. It is so hard in my district to create community across the student population for anything but a very competitive sporting event. I hope the administration realizes what a genuine gift it is to have high school students welcoming incoming freshmen in this fun way, entirely on their own."
And, I'll admit, sometimes just as an act of affection, and not relegated to the first day of school.
Someone will likely bust me anyway (Steve Crossot, Jennifer Kringel)..but I might as well admit to TPing the Crossot home when I shared an acute crush with another student and the two of us went nuts on his house. Unfortunately, it was rather awkward trying to explain to his mother that this is an affectionate tradition and honestly, we did a great job, and I hadn't counted on the rain making it such a mess. Maybe that's what is compelling me to remind all in the village — a primer for the uninitiated — that it's not vandalism that drives this one, but affection. Not that I'm planning a spree (heh). It's not just me, either.
"It's really a long-standing tradition," said SHS Alumnae Jennie Roth Dickens, referring to TPing. "I will admit to having done it. I remember TP-ing Kathleen O'T's house following a challenge from her mom ('We haven't seen a good TP job since we moved here!')... we made the front of their yard look like they had an enormous, pastel weeping willow (when you could buy pastel TP)."
Not that you should unleash a roll on a neighbor you fancy, but smile inside when you pass a house that's been hit — those are kids, welcoming the new ones into the fold.
Margaret Schmidt
9:39 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I think the dinks died in 1996 or 97. They were around in my early years of teaching, and I actually have one!
Jenny Heyden
9:45 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Thanks, Margaret. You'd think I'd know. The SHS Alumni Association actually has them again - I think they're planning a comeback. Stay tuned!
Elaine a
10:01 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Thanks i loved this. We truely did have so many great non violent traditions. I loved as a swimmer to be tped as a freshman. I knew i was welcomed. So as many others. Paid hell at home but i loved removing every piece
Jan
10:39 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
My daughter graduated in 1997...she and her classmates still wore the dinks!
Linda Neff
8:52 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
So miss the senior parade on the first day of school! I didn't grow up in Wisconsin. When my husband and I moved to Shorewood I remember that first day of school and thinking "This is fantastic - we definitely moved to a place where there is a strong sense of community." Wondering why it was outlawed - hope it wasn't an indictment of community. May our youth continue to lead us with spirited hearts and TP!
Grace Crivello
12:04 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Over the years I wondered what happened to the honking of horns on the first day of school. It's sad. I say bring back those traditions! We loved them. I want my child to love them and hopefully her children too!
Lynne Milner
10:56 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
I miss it too. I want it back!!!!
Shorewood Grad
12:22 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Let the TP roll! I volunteer to clean up after the kids...such a blessing to be welcomed into a school community with such grandeur!
N. Peske
12:48 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
David Zucker isn't the only one who honed his craft in Assembly Training. Stand-up comics and comic writers Hannes Phinney and Evan Gore, both SHS class of 80 and now working in LA, were AT class students who made the most of the marvelous opportunity to inflict their own brand of comedy on a captive audience (which was a pretty forgiving one, considering that time in assembly meant time out of class). Best part of high school, hands down. I don't recall tp'ing in the 70s...perhaps because our own traditions were far goofier, less wasteful, and more creative. I do recall a spontaneous "Save Spur" performance art piece conducted at noon for the sake of amusement, around the the time when Spur had been reduced to rubble (I believe I was Queen of the Spur Rally...it's foggy now but Sam Schneidman, holding a bullhorn, was definitely involved in that one.)
Sami Ghani
1:58 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
What a fantastic article. As a recent alumni of SHS (2009) I cannot emphasize the importance of traditions like this enough. It's things like the senior parade (which, to my knowledge, was removed due to "concerns" by the administration and SPD about students hurting themselves and causing a public nuisance) and the TPing of the school and homes that unites Shorewood students. Since coming to study at UW-Madison, where I'll be entering my 3rd year this fall, I've found many of my friends amazed at how strong my connection is to my hometown and my school. It's a connection that I hope to keep for the rest of my life, and one of which I am incredibly proud.
Traditions like this are rare and getting rarer at schools, and Shorewood is no exception. It is important for the community and important for the students that things like this are kept alive, and not swept under the rug and eliminated for the sake of "appearance" or "convenience".
ShorewoodMom
5:27 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I've known many a parent to set their alarm extra early on the first day of school - prepared to go out and TP their own home if no one had done it for them. It was absolutely seen by the vast majority as a festive sign of welcome.
I've seen some "decorating" around the neighborhood this week - and while it's better than nothing - I much preferred when it all happened in one night so that the whole village felt decorated. Walking the little kids to school with all the TP in the trees, the red wagons, etc - felt like walking them along a parade route - who wouldn't be excited for the first day of school!
Jenny Heyden
10:02 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
these comments are starting to trick me into reading patch comments!! Thanks!
Tammy B
10:45 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
I agree, these traditions are sacred. The first day honking was surprisingly melodious and beautiful.
Ma Kromer
4:30 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
It is such a shame that the School District Administration and Shorewood Police have strictly outlawed all of these traditions, including the TP'ing. It has taken the heart right out these great kids who have wanted to carry on with these lovely traditions like their older siblings & friends were able to. As in the above comments, from the horns to the pretty new white trees to kids going to school for the first time and talking about all the horns for the first day of school... with excitement...and older mothers coming out with their coffee to listen for and appreciate the celebration of the "New School Year!!" All about being special & great & community. Now, there is nothing. Very, very sad.
Jenny Heyden
9:24 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Not nothing - I heard them this morning! (the rogues) and so many decorated lawns! Hurrah Shorewood Students - thank you for giving us a lift in our hearts on this first day back to school!
Ma Kromer
1:16 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
YESSS!
Adam W. McCoy
11:47 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Whoa, you guys weren't kidding. It was hard to ignore the new decor a lot of homes are sporting this morning. Shorewood has some ardent seniors.
thinker
11:10 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Anyone who thinks this "tradition" is a great thing is pathetic. Why would shorewood want this to continue? I thought shorewood was full of eco-friendly people who want the community to come together. And tp'ing is your answer? Let's not think about the waste of paper, the amount of money it costs the school to clean up, yes time is money and in out budget cut days would the residents really want their taxpayer money going to staff cleaning up toiler paper? Shorewood has it's fair share of intelligent people, knock your heads together and teach the kids to do something to be proud of as a community, plant trees, help the neighbors, figure something out besides toiler paper and silly string for your "tradition."
taxpayer
11:43 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Dinks were alive and well in 1997 when I wore mine. I believe we were the last class to drive around honking horns as well. A great tradition lost.
Ma Kromer
1:26 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
You're right, no more dinks. But yours was NOT the last to drive around honking horns. This (harmless & lovely--refer to Jenny's article) tradition lasted at least until 2006-7. The police & SHS admins & Superindent McCann outlawed this tradition sometime before my youngest son graduated in 2010-- much to the dismay of many, many residents, parents & most of all, the students.
The Donny Show
11:53 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
It was Jan's daughter that caused the end of the driving around. She rear-ended two separate people that morning!!!!!