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North Hall High rally honors star students
0815rally RW
North Hall High students crash through a banner during a back-to-school rally Thursday evening at The Brickyard. Dozens of the school’s high-performing academic students crashed through the banner.
Shouts of "Move that bus!" rang out through North Hall High School’s brickyard.

Ty Pennington wasn’t there, but it was an episode of Extreme Makeover: Trojan Edition.

Beverly Buffington, front office secretary for North Hall High School, said the faculty and staff of the school wanted to hold a Meet the Trojans Night Rally on Thursday to showcase its academic stars and introduce fall sports teams.

Buffington said the "Extreme Makeover" theme was inspired by a mosaic under construction in the North Hall High lobby. A portion of the mosaic will be unveiled each time students meet defined academic goals.

At the rally, students had to scream "Move that bus!" for cheerleaders to remove a banner to reveal which North Hall students had made good grades last semester.

Hundreds of ninth- through 12th-grade students who performed well in school last semester burst through a banner on the football field. Balloons were released into the sky as students were recognized for their achievements.

Holly Shilling, a ninth-grader at North Hall High, was one of the students honored. Although she was being commended for passing all of her classes, Shilling said she mainly came to the rally to hang out with friends.

"It’s actually kind of fun," she said. "I was at the back. I let all the big guys be in front."

Eighty-one North Hall students had perfect attendance last semester, while 33 students finished last semester with a 4.5 grade point average.

The 33 high-achieving students earned the platinum level Renaissance card, which earns them discounts at community businesses as well as free entry into home sports games and a Meet the Trojans Night Rally T-shirt.

Gold cardholders had all A’s last semester, while silver cardholders had A’s and B’s. Bronze cardholders passed all classes last semester. All students who earned Renaissance cards missed no more than five days of school and had no disciplinary problems.

Depending on the level of their card, students will receive a range of discounts to Weezie’s Kitchen, Diamond Car Wash, Dylan’s, Reid’s Cafe, Mr. Ed’s Pizza and Trueloves Celebration.

"I’m definitely going to Mr. Ed’s Pizza," Shilling said.