In the fall of 2015 there was a school-wide competition for original lyrics in order to create an Alma Mater for Quinton Township School.  Students from all grade levels were permitted to submit lyrics.  The winning lyrics were selected by a committee, which included Mr. Wernega, Mrs. Delia, and several staff members.  The committee looked for lyrics that best represented a positive climate in Quinton School.  They included Mr. Wernega's input regarding how well each submission of lyrics would transfer to a melody line.

 

The committee reviewed lyrics written by two fifth graders, Zoe Eldrige and Elise Sperry.  They felt that elements from both sets of lyrics could be combined into a meaningful Alma Mater, based on the Quinton PBSIS acronym, "ROAR," which stands for "respectful," open-minded," "accountable," and "responsible."  Mr. Wernega agreed that these lyrics were a positive representation of our school, and from there he moved to the task creating a melody and consolidating the lyrics, retaining the main points.  Although the lyrics of the finished product had many differences from the two submissions, the title (We're the Wildcats) was taken word-for-word from the first line of lyrics submitted by Zoe Eldridge.

 

The outcome was an original Alma Mater which is similar to that of a college or high school.  Because of the high skill level of the Quinton School Chorale, Mr. Wernega wrote an advanced harmonization of the melody, and he even added a key change toward the end.  Due to the barbershop harmony program at Quinton School, the Chorale was very adept at singing this intricate arrangement.

 

The Chorale sings "We're the Wildcats" at every Spring Concert and invited former Chorale members to stand with them and join in the singing.  This is not a replacement for the Senior Choir alumni song "Like an Eagle," selected by Mr. Wernega in the spring of 1994.

 

Here is a video of members of Chorale singing "We're the Wildcats in 2017.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYJ_MdepAs

Here is a vitual video recorded by the Chorale in the spring of 2020 while home in quarantine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-BXsSHDU1Q