Each week, one teacher’s simple ritual keeps a schoolwide tradition alive and reminds students that sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest memories.
If you walk through the halls of Helix Charter High School on a Friday afternoon, you might hear something unexpected coming from one of the classrooms, Rebecca Black’s 2011 hit song “Friday.” For students in Mr. McKinney’s class, the song is more than just a pop throwback; it’s a weekly tradition that signals the end of the week and a bit of lighthearted fun before the weekend begins.
Mr. McKinney explained that the tradition actually began long before he started teaching himself.
“About fifteen years ago, a teacher named Mr. Gary used to play Friday every week, full blast,” McKinney says, “He taught across the hall from me, and when he retired, I decided to keep it going to carry on that reputation.”
What started as a fun habit between two teachers has turned into a long-standing classroom ritual that many students at Helix have come to recognize, and even look forward to.
To learn more about how students feel about the weekly tune, I interviewed three of Mr. McKinney’s current juniors. Their answers displayed that while not everyone loves the song itself, they all appreciate the humor and tradition behind it. The first student I interviewed, Jake who is a Junior from Mr. McKinney’s classroom, described the song as “unique and funny,” explaining how it reminds him of Mr. McKinney every time he hears it.
“It shows his personality in a positive way,” Jake said. While he admitted that he wouldn’t normally listen to it on his own, rating it a 5/10, he added with a laugh, “It wouldn’t be a Friday without it.”
An anonymous student shared a similar opinion. They called the song “a tradition [that is] upbeat and gets stuck in your head.” They mentioned that they’ve grown used to hearing it every week and now recognize it as the sign that class is almost over. “It’s kind of funny,” they said, rating it a 6/10, “but it wouldn’t be Friday without it.”
Arturo, also a junior, had more of a mixed reaction.
“When I first hear it, I’m like, not again,” he admitted. “But when I don’t hear it, I kind of miss it.”
He said that the song “brings out a certain mood” and reminds him of Mr. McKinney’s fun teaching style. Arturo concluded that while he might not love the song itself, the tradition should definitely continue because “it’s just part of the class now.”
Even though Rebecca Black’s “Friday” might not top anyone’s personal playlists anymore, in Mr. McKinney’s classroom it’s more than just a song, it’s a symbol of connection and consistency. It brings students together in laughter and marks the end of another week of learning. In a world where traditions can fade fast, this simple act of pressing play every Friday reminds everyone that sometimes, the smallest things make the biggest memories.
Because at Helix, as Mr. McKinney’s students would agree, it just wouldn’t be Friday without it.
“Sometimes it’s the smallest traditions that remind us life doesn’t have to be extraordinary to be meaningful.” – Anonymous