The school-run Instagram account @gotogapower has gained 100 more followers this year as it tries to cover daily school events through photos and captions.  

The account is run mainly by assistant principal Kerry Mohnike and attendance secretary Mandy Armes. Mohnike and Armes have also been tagging their photos with “#gofalconpower,” which has over 50 recent posts.

Though she sees these numbers as decent, Armes said the account isn’t advertised well enough, so students, parents and community members are unaware that it exists.

“We had a training event about social media in high schools, so we started this account after learning that social media can push out the good things that are going around on campus,” Mohnike said.

Mohnike started a similar account two years ago, but someone hacked it last year and started posting spam and inappropriate pictures, forcing Mohnike to create another school-focused Instagram.

Since then, the account has been focused on documenting school spirit and offering insights into the non-academic aspects of the school.

“It’s a great way to showcase what’s going on on campus and how busy everybody is,” Mohnike said. “It shows how involved everyone is in school.”

Homecoming week in late September also helped the account gain more followers, as students received recognition for their hard work and talent. Mohnike and Armes also made sure to post behind-the-scene photos of students decorating and practicing for their Quad Days.

“After Quad Days this year, we noticed that we started gaining a lot more followers,” Armes said. “It makes sense because it’s a great way for students to see themselves or their friends in the Homecoming photos.”

Mohnike and Armes also post photos of day-to-day school activities like sports games and rallies. Because most students communicate through the internet, posting on social media allows events to “get more publicity” and lets both students and parents access photos, Armes said.  

Through the “gotogapower” Instagram, parents, staff and students have been able to come together and appreciate the school’s hard work to make events like Prom and Club Fair happen.

“I really love seeing the different events going on at school on the Instagram account,” junior Jennah El-Ashmawi said. “It’s a great way to keep up with things that I miss seeing at school.”