Shalhevet’s aging white sports van received a splash of new, vibrant colors and vinyl stickers when two workers from “Car Wraps and Above” traveled to campus  Jan. 15 to decorate the vehicle.

The van serves as a mobile billboard, creating more business for the school, along with encouraging sports teams to have more spirit and excitement going into their games.

Marketing Director Matt Weintraub said it shows trust and pride in the school’s teams.

“The goal was, instead of rolling up in a run down van, that now they can show up with something that shows what their team is all about,” said marketing director Matt Weintraub. “Ultimately it’s supposed to give them [the athletes] a sense of pride and a sense of being part of a team in the community.”

Stickers with flames pictured on them now race across the the main windows on each side of the van. Shalhevet’s school mascot, the firehawk, is pictured below with the word “Firehawks” blazing next to it. The back windows likewise say “Shalhevet” with the school flame beside it. The van was coated to keep the vinyl stickers on and give it a clean, white shine.

“I love the flames especially!” said sophomore Raquel Garshofsky, the girls’ soccer team goalie. “Arriving at a game in a van screaming our name adds to the energy and excitement.”

Rabbi Weinbach said his hope was that sports teams, along with other extra- curricular activities which use the van, would walk out to their competitions feeling proud of being part of Shalhevet.   He said funding came from the school’s advertising budget.

Two workers from “Car Wraps and Above” installed the vinyl products, which are similar to strong stickers, on first semester review day.

“The new look really expresses our school spirit,” said junior Lauren Mohabber, forward for the girls varsity basketball team. “It definitely instills more confidence into the players.”

Although sophomore basketball player Eitan Spitzer enjoys the exterior of the new van, he doesn’t feel like it affects the teams’ performance.

“It doesn’t necessarily affect the way I feel while headed to a game,” remarked Eitan, who plays starting guard. “There will always be a thrill to go to a game.”