Southwestern Elementary School students and staff are pictured at a rally Wednesday to support Nick Sirianni, a 1999 Southwestern graduate and head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. A similar rally was held in the middle-high school. P-J photos by Eric Tichy

After a quick run through Wednesday afternoon, Southwestern Elementary School students sang along to “Fly, Eagles, Fly,” the fight song for the Philadelphia Eagles. The rendition was complemented by scores of students sporting bald eagle facemasks and headwear.

At least for a day, Southwestern put aside its Trojans mascot and became awash in green in support of the Eagles and its head coach, Nick Sirianni, a 1999 graduate of the district.

A pep rally to support Sirianni was held at the elementary school. Another one was held shortly after at the middle-high school.

Ashley Beaver, a third-grade teacher, explained to the elementary school students why the district was rooting for Sirianni and Eagles in the upcoming Super Bowl set to be played this Sunday.

“He is one of our very own,” Beaver said. “He was a Southwestern Trojan. How cool is that? … Nick went to the elementary school and the middle school and the high school. He sat in the same chairs that all of you are sitting in today.”

Fifth-grader Gianna Sirianni helped students sing along to “Fly, Eagles, Fly,” the fight song for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wednesday’s pep rally at the elementary school included Sirianni’s parents, Fran and Amy; his brother, Jay; and sister-in-law, Kay.

“I bet you that he dreamed of, maybe, one day having a career in athletics. And his dream came true,” Beaver said. “He is the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, and so when you are watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, you can say, ‘Holy cow, a Southwestern Trojan is on the biggest stage in the NFL.”

Beaver then introduced a “super fan” to say a few words — fifth-grader Gianna Sirianni, whose uncle is Nick Sirianni.

“Thank you so much for all the support that Southwestern has shown for my uncle and the Eagles,” Gianna told a crowd of students and staff, later adding, “My uncle is very nice and especially a hard worker. He has earned the opportunity to be in the Super Bowl. Thank you for all the support. Once a Trojan always a Trojan. Go Birds.”

“It was awesome. It was just awesome,” Jay Sirianni said afterward. “Seeing that amount of pride from our school, from these kids, going out to Nick.”

Elementary school students are pictured sporting Eagles masks and colors on Wednesday.