2008: Golden Phoenix

FIELD MARSHALS:
Deena ROTHMAN
Jordan BILNOSKI
Tracy SMITH
Lauren CONNERS
Daniel “CJ” KING
Liam DAVIS
Will GREEN
Taylor BENNETT
FIVE STAR GENERALS:
Hilary DEUTSCH
Sarah FELDMAN
Jennifer VANDERVOLK
Matt MAURER
Cory TOPOROVSKY
Alec SPERGEL
GENERALS:
Liz CORNELL
Callie ARLO
Jenna FORMAN
Jeremy EULE
Kyle CONDRON
Matthew SCHWARTZ
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Rachel SALOMONE
ROPE BURN LEADER:
Zach SCHWARTZ
SING COORDINATOR:
Jaclyn ROSE
LIEUTENANT GENERALS:
Alli ROBERTS
Stephanie HUG
Michael SHAW
Zach HAMMER
MAJORS:
Sophie EISENBUD
Jessica MILLER
Josh LIEBERMAN
Brady CONDRON
CAPTAINS:
Chelsey COHEN
Rene SANDLER
Daniel ZEIBERG
Justin McBRIDE

THE POEM

From scattered ashes in a nest of cinnamon twigs,
The Phoenix is reborn
Renewing Gold’s strength in a burst of fiery flames
Hungrily they lick at his powerful beak,
Roll in waves down his back,
And dissipate one by one into the cold air surrounding him.
He looks around him from the peak of a mountain
Whose rocky slopes open into a wide valley of trees,
Their branches yawning, stretching groggily into the night
As if the stars are just barely out of reach
The Phoenix is centuries old and a newborn at the same time
He can’t quite remember having flown before
But he takes flight effortlessly
As if he has been made for the sole purpose of doing so
Zooming over the trees he ceases to be a separate entity
And seems to become part of the air itself
As the group below whizzes by in a blue of dazzling color and light
The song of the Phoenix lifts into the skies
A joyous medley of pure, crisp notes
Echoing through the starry night
A song of excitement and laughter
Of teeth-gritting competition, cheering and sweat of long embraces and tearful goodbyes.
Finally he reaches a glistening ocean of blue
And swoops down to the surface
Staying barely above the burbling ripples
So that the hot flames of his beating wings dance along the water
Scalding gold meets icy blue
In a gliding stream of motion
Just like the legacy of the blue and gold
The Phoenix will live on to infinity.

THE ESSAY

We are representing the Phoenix for Color Week 2008.
The Phoenix is a mythical bird that lives in Phoenicia. It is the only one of its kind. The bird, feathered with the arrangement of red and purple, has a striking golden tail. The Phoenix became popular in early Christian literature. It was first identified in Egypt; although, the Greeks documented the bird by “Phoenix” meaning crimson or purple-red.
The Phoenix was a symbol in many different cultures all around the world, such as the Egyptians, Chinese, Japanese and Arabs. The bird had many different names such as Bennu, Feng Huang and Hou-Ou. The Phoenix, being a part of many customs is a figure of diversity. In Egypt, it was usually depicted as of Heron, but in the classic literature as a peacock or an Eagle.
Towards the end of the Phoenix’s life span, which could be up to 500 years, it begins its rebirth cycle. The Phoenix builds itself a nest consisting of spices. Soon after, the nest bursts into flames and turns to ashes. A decaying flesh is made and sucks up the juices from the nest. When it has enough strength, a new Phoenix is born, and is destined to have similar qualities to the previous Phoenix.
The Phoenix, just like the friendship of the Blue and Gold is immortal and invincible. The bird is not only associated with rebirth, but peace as well. The Phoenix is a harmless creature that lives on dewdrops. It uses its powers to bring comfort, and end suffering. Just like the Phoenix, the Gold Team will always stay strong and will extend its hand to any team or person. If the Phoenix is injured it can heal itself, just as the Gold Team can pull up from losses.
It is an honor to have the Phoenix represent the Gold Team because of its fierceness and strong ability to start and finish with pride. The Gold Team is the rebirth of past color week teams at Iroquois Springs. At the end of color week, the Gold and the Blue will reunite at Iroquois Springs and live peacefully forever.. on dew drops.

THE STANDARD

THE MARCH

(Tune: “Ocean Avenue”, Yellowcard)

Let me share a secret from me to you
Phoenix always does what we gotta do
Victory’s in our dreams and in our minds
We possess more passion than you could ever (1) find (1,2,3,4)
Color Week oh-eight is gonna be a steal
You know our bonds are whole and our drive is real.
Still, our blood is running both blue and gold
It keeps us striving through whatever these days (1) hold (1,2,3,4)
Chorus
Gold Team is here to fight
We’ll work together
With all our strength and might
We’ll last forever
Blue Team will fall from fright
And leave the Gold Team to be the champions (1,2,3,4)
Day to day, Golden Phoenix never quits
Everywhere we go, we constantly commit
We run our races hard, and swim our laps real fast
Blue Team, your chance to win have (1) passed (1,2,3,4)
Chorus
Gold Team is here to fight
We’ll work together
With all our strength and might
We’ll last forever
Blue Team will fall from fright
And leave the Gold Team to be the champions (1,2,3,4)
Blue’s left in our tracks, in our cloud of dust
Points are adding up, you won’t catch up to us
Our spirit won’t die down, our story will be told
The win will go to team (1) Gold (1,2,3,4)
The win to team (1) Gold (1,2,3,4)
Chorus
Gold Team is here to fight
We’ll work together
With all our strength and might
We’ll last forever
Blue Team will fall from fright
And leave the Gold Team to be the champions
GO GOLD!

THE ALMA MATER

(TUNE: “You and Me”, Lifehouse)
We stand together,
All here tonight
Our hearts join forever as one (1)
I turn to you,
And look in your eyes
The sparkle in them brings me home (1,2,3)
As the cold wind blows, and takes us away
We’re reminded of memories occurred day by day
Throughout the months, awaiting camp’s start
‘Til summer returns,
You’ve got a piece of my heart (1,2,3)
Words can’t describe
The feeling that stirs in me
Holding your hand close in mine (1)
Thinking of you, through photos and memories
Wishing that there was more time (1,2,3)
As the cold wind blows, and takes us away
We’re reminded of memories occurred day by day
Throughout the months, awaiting camp’s start
‘Til summer returns,
You’ve got a piece of my heart (1,2,3)
SOLO BOY: I think of the times we’ve shared (1)
SOLO GIRL: They’ll never go away (1)
BOY AND GIRL TOGETHER: I don’t want to think of tomorrow (1)
I just want to treasure today (1,2,3)
Infinity and Phoenix united together
At Iroquois Springs, our bonds last forever
Throughout the weeks before we depart
‘Till summer returns
You’ve got a piece of my heart (1,2,3)
It’s the Blue and Gold melting together
At Iroquois Springs, our love lasts forever
Throughout the months, awaiting camp’s start
Always remember
(slow) You’ve got a piece of my heart