Cheer is offered after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the Fall and Winter season to Kindergarten through Grade 3 students. All levels of skill and experience are welcome with no previous cheer experience required to participate.
Saint John School Cheer strives to build confidence and self-esteem through determination and empowerment. We expect our squad to engage, improve, and be involved by expressing their pride in our school, our faith, and our community. Cheer focuses on building basic skills through our 6:1 coaching instruction. The team is trained through a series of drills, skills building, choreography, cheer motions, expression, tumbling, low level gymnastics and prep stunting skills. Our team goal is to enjoy the sport of Cheerleading and to be representatives of Saint John School spirit while preparing for and preforming at Pep Rallies, Catholic Schools Week, SJS Basketball Games, the annual Jamboree, and Community events like the Wellesley Celebrations Committee and Veterans Parade.
If you are interested in cheer, teamwork, school spirit, challenging yourself and engaging with your friends and community we hope you join our Cheer Squad for the 2022-2023 school year!
Meet Our Coaches
Odessa Sanchez
Graduate of Boston University Medical School of Biomedical Studies, Sanchez is currently the head coach of Wellesley High School's Cheer Team and has been since 2015. Sanchez is the former cheer director for South End Titans Pop Warner Cheer Organization, a dedicated community volunteer and a female empowerment advocate. She has served as an innovator of school spirit, mentor of sportsmanship and accountability, and a very capable instructor of cheer and spirit leading.
Community Investors' Girl Power Hour Volunteer 2015-Present
Community Investor's Teen Center Event Double Dutch Instructor 2015-Present
WHS Varsity Cheer Team Director & Head Coach 2015-Present
Wellesley Middle School Cheer Club Mentor & Advisor 2016
Certifications:
NYCC Cheerleading Certification 2018-2019
NYCC Cheer Coach Certification 2015-2016
NFHS Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drug and Substances
NFHS CDC Concussion in Sports 2018
NFHS COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators 9.23.2020
Danielle Phinney
Phinney is the 5th and 6th grade ELA Teacher at Saint John School. She graduated from Saint Anselm College with her Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and received her Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Simmons University. Ms. Phinney was a cheerleader at Mount Alvernia High School and served as captain her senior year. Phinney was a member of the Saint Anselm College dance team and served as the Vice President of the dance club. Phinney is looking forward to her second year of coaching cheer at SJS!
Olivia Alcott
Alcott is one of our Grade 2 Teachers at Saint John School. She graduated from Salve Regina University with her bachelor of science in Elementary and Special Education. Alcott was a competitive gymnast throughout high school at Planet Gymnastics of Natick and as a captain of the Natick High School gymnastics team. She has been coaching gymnastics for 6 years, from preschool level gymnastics all the way up through competitive team gymnastics. This is her third year coaching Cheer at Saint John's and she is very excited for another great year!
Certifications:
USA gymnastics certified instructor
Alexandra Ranucci
Ranucci is one of the Grade 1 Teacher at Saint John School. She graduated from University of Massachusetts Boston with her bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Childhood Education. She did pop-warner cheerleading during her childhood in Natick MA. Her passion for team sports continued all the way through college and to this day. This is her fourth year coaching Cheer at Saint John School.
