So it begins...again

As the spring trimester is coming to an end, the students have begun practicing for the fall sports festival. This means each class has begun practicing the same short cheer that everyone sings every sports festival. I just don't understand why there is so much practice. Everyone except for the first-year students sang this song about 200 times (no joke) last year in preparation for last year's sports festival. Why do they need to practice it this early? (The sports festival is two months away). As much as I'm going to miss my students, hearing this song makes me realize that I don't think I would last another year in the Japanese school system. I admire the dedication and discipline, but I just can't understand it sometimes. But it seems as if the students are enjoying themselves most of the time. They sure are tough!