From the dance to royalty, Homecoming takes months of planning.
Students brainstorm and vote for the year’s Homecoming theme at the Student Council retreat.
“We have traditionally had our StuCo Retreat the first Friday night of the school year. That keeps it before a lot of other activities get going again, and we have fewer conflicts,” student council sponsor Sarah Wilson said.
The theme must be versatile to make four categories for the class floats.
Junior class president Paris Philips said, “There is a lot of thought and teamwork to pick the Hoco theme. We all get together and share our ideas and vote on the one that everyone has a connection with. It’s fun to do and seeing something you were a part of.”
After this, students volunteer for three committees: royalty, decorating and the pep assembly.
The senior class nominates homecoming royalty. To be nominated, you must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, be in good standing with school discipline, and be involved in at least one school-approved activity.
As well as the royalty candidates, there are the freshman flower girls.
“Being a freshman flower girl was one of the best things to get my hooked more on student council and helped me have fun and engage with the sponsor, Mrs. Wilson, and get to know some new people,” junior class treasurer Brogan Jesseph said.
Leading up to this, classes have individual meetings of 20 students per class where they plan their floats.
“A good homecoming float represents the theme that the class has chosen in a way that is obvious to everyone who sees it. It should have large, easy-to-see elements that bring that theme to life and include as many spirited members of the class as possible,” Wilson said.
Each class is given a budget of $200 to spend with their sponsors at stores like Walmart, Lowes, etc.
Homecoming is on Oct.12, the parade is on Oct. 10 and the football game is on Oct. 11.
“I love the parade because it involves the entire community,” Wilson said. “Seeing all of our schools represented and participating, with so many community members out to watch, is a pretty awesome thing that I don’t think happens in all towns our size.”
Hoco season comes with ‘Hoco proposals,” which are posters that students exchange with their date.
“I didn’t know about the Hoco proposal,” junior Emma Anders said. “I’m excited because it was super sweet, and we’ll have fun.”