The flagettes started spinning flags and doing marching routines only last year, when the club was first approved.

“The students wanted this team,” sponsor and biology teacher Ms. Osbourne said.

The flagettes perform at football games and pep rallies.

Because Krop does not have a marching band, the flagettes cannot perform on the field at football games. Instead, they perform in the stands. However, since the stands lack sufficient space for a flag routine, the flagettes only perform dance routines.

The missing marching band inhibits the flagettes from competing as well.

“Without a marching band, we can’t go to competitions, such as Battle of the Bands,” Osborne said.

Currently, there are seven flagettes – two seniors, two juniors and three sophomores. They practice four times a week.

“It’s something that you’re in to represent the school,” former flagette Aniola Pierre said. “When people say ‘Oh, it looks nice,’ I feel rewarded.”

According to Osborne, “The team members are responsible for raising the funds needed to purchase their uniform, which consists of shoes, flag poles, pom-poms, and two uniforms.”

This year that total cost came to $300 due from each flagette. This cost was more than last year’s because each member bought two uniforms instead of one.

Though the flagettes started the year with 13 participants, six have since quit. Flagette and sophomore Brittney Daughtry believes that more flagettes are needed.

Some believe students, particularly males, are drawn away from the flagettes because of its name.

“When [male students] see ‘flagettes,’ they automatically see it feminine,” Osborne said.

In some schools, the “flagettes” are called “color guards,” who also spin rifles to increase the number of male students.

Because Osborne will finish coaching once the football season ends, the students are in search of a new sponsor.

“I am working on a sponsor letter and I am going to wait till the football season is over,” said junior Naziah Riaz, the flagettes captain.

Former color guard and English teacher Jennifer Hershey intends to help.

“I’ve shown [the flagettes] a couple of tosses and spins. I can help them with choreography, but sponsoring them will be hard,” Hershey said.

If students want to join the flagettes, they can attend the try-out week, usually held in April of each school year, where students will learn basic flag techniques.