by Cal Wilson ’14

Students believe that after school, teachers just calmly grade papers or attend boring teachers’ meetings; however, that is just what the staff wants them to think. Once the halls are clear of students and all the hustle and bustle of the school day has died off, eight teachers get together and relieve their stress from the school day in a very creative fashion.

On January 24, at approximately 2:45 p.m., there was a faint tune echoing from the teachers’ bathroom in the lower H hallway. After some Warrior investigation, it was discovered that the noise was coming from a rap battle between Mr. Key and Mrs. Walker. The battle was performed in the presence of teachers Ms. Woolley, Ms. Dibler, Mr. Bell, Mr. Silverbook, Ms. Dinerman and Ms. Frensili. These eight teachers make up Sherwood’s very own secret, underground rap group.

The group calls themselves “Sherwood’s Elite Eight,” and enforces a strict teachers-only policy. The “Elite Eight” plans a tournament at Sherwood every month, but on a new date every time to ensure no one will discover them.

It all began last school year when Key was stressed overmid-terms and asked Bell if he would rap with him to blow off steam. Key and Bell enjoyed themselves so much they decided to let a few other teachers in on the fun.

“Each one of us was selected by Mr. Key himself to bring something special to the team,” explained Frensilli. “Mr. Silverbook provides the beats, Ms. Woolley schedules the events, Ms. Dibler helps us write our lyrics, Mrs. Dinerman brings the popcorn and Mrs. Walker and Mr. Bell bring the freshness.”

Each teacher is in charge of producing his or her own rap prior to the battles which tend to be on the subjects they teach. Some teachers rap to Silverbook’s homemade beats while others rap to the instrumentals of popular artists. Dinerman, for instance, rapped to “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis with:

“I’m gonna study APES,

Only got one planet we can live on

AP Environmental

That class is truly awesome.

Now, walk into the class like, “What up, Cupcakes”?

I’m so pumped up about some trips that APES takes

Marsh and the woods are so dang frosty

That people like, “Dang, that tree’s real mossy.”

Boatin’ in, waters deep, crabbin’ at the scene,

Dressed in school blue, ‘cept my gators, those are green.

Draped in a dredge line, oysters are all at my feet

Tested water, caught some fish, kinda muddy, it was sweet. “

Walker answered with a rap to Silverbook’s beats:

“Talking dollars make ya holla

Yeah

Talking dollars make ya holla

Yeah

Well it’s 7:25 on the clock

Kids rolling in off da block

Candy sales flowing non-stop

Talking bout hittin’ up the spot

Six women to thirty crazy boys

Talking bout making lots of noise

Here I stand waitin for an openin’

Voices getting louder here we go again.”