On August 22, the first day of school, the entire student body met at 2:50 p.m. in the auditorium for a surprise assembly.  Once there, the students were presented with 3 banners that read “One community.  Cultivating minds.  Expanding possibilities.  We are TR.”  This was later explained to be the official new theme in which the high school would center its entire year around.  At the assembly, five speakers, all whom had attended TRHS at some point, expounded on why they loved the high school and what the new theme meant to them.  This included Student Body President Judith Kate Ward, teachers Sean Cameron, Robbie Cole, and Josh Mills, and Rebecca Cooper, the TR Area Chamber of Commerce President and member of city council.  “We are TR” is a common phrase among the families of Travelers Rest, but nobody had thought of it as a lifestyle until now.

Mr. Lavely decided to get a group of teachers together in the spring of 2017 to brainstorm and choose a theme for the 2017-2018 school year.  “We chose a theme because we wanted to reach the entire student body, not just the ones that went to football games.  We want to create a culture for TRHS that everyone is a part of it,” said Mr. Lavely.

“It was something new so we didn’t know what to initially think of it, but once we saw the impact that it created on the students and administration, we think it will definitely be something good for the school,” said Ward.  The school has taken this new motto very seriously, with shirts and posters for all of the staff.  Mr. Lavely had even taken it to Twitter with the hashtag #WeAreTR17.  An hour after the assembly, Mr. Lavely tweeted, “After that assembly, there is no doubt that We Are TR!! So proud to be a Devildog and part of this amazing community! #WeAreTR17.”  Now when the student section screams “We are TR” from the stands, they’ll be reminded of where they grew up and how much they adore this small town.