Homecoming. What some would consider the most action-packed week of the school year. From spirit days to the Powderpuff game, there’s a tradition for just about everyone. All these traditions build up to an exhilarating Friday night game and an unforgettable Saturday night.
But who brings this week-long tradition to life? Who hangs the class wall banners, organizes the Pep Rally, or choreographs the Golden Guys dance? An enormous amount of effort from both students and staff is required to create a memorable week for the entire school.
“For a successful Homecoming to happen there have to be so many people that step forward and help out, both faculty and students, whom most people never even know did what they did. But without them, this week simply would not occur,” Mr. Andrew Gensler, Student Council advisor said. “So I hope it’s a week where people are appreciative, involved, and use this and all the other efforts that have been put into it to make it a fun, enjoyable week that is filled with memories that they have for the rest of their lives. That’s the whole goal of the week.”
Student Council organizes a considerable amount of Homecoming week, including ticket sales, decorations, and deciding the theme, just to name a few. This year, Student Council has chosen a theme that is sure to excite lots of students.
“This year’s theme is Tangled. We’ve sort of elaborated a little and said ‘Tangled up in a Good Homecoming’. It’s based off the Disney film, [Student Council] just thought it had a lot of different possibilities for decorating and making it cute. It seems to be a film that really connects
with the generation that’s currently in high school,” Mr. Gensler said.
Deciding the theme of the week is the easy part. The rest of what needs to be accomplished requires months of planning, and over a hundred students and staff members.
Homecoming Dance
Student Council will begin planning for Homecoming way before even the most organized of students have even thought about who they’re going with or what color dress they might wear. In the spring of the previous school year, discussions are already happening about what will take place in the fall.
“So we actually start planning for Homecoming at the end of the previous school year. We have people [in Student Council] put out ideas that they think would make good themes, and from that Student Council votes on the theme,” Mr. Gensler said.
As soon as students return, Student Council is already ready to get to work. After Labor Day, council members are up at school every Saturday working on decorations and prepping for the dance.
“Especially this year with when school started and when Homecoming is, within the first week of being back, we were already kicking it into high gear. So, the third day of school was when Powderpuff forms and Golden Guy forms were available and they were due a week and a half later,” Mr. Gensler said.
Homecoming being moved roughly a week earlier than what is typical makes time that much more valuable. Every bit of the seven weeks from the start of school to Homecoming matters.
“It’s weird to think that a week makes such a big difference, but when you get into the nitty-gritty of what needs to happen to make the end product good, it does compact it a little bit. I know some schools do it in the middle of September, and I’m sure that they may not do it like the Eureka traditions demand that we do it. It’s probably not quite as big of a deal,” Mr. Gensler said.
The process of putting the dance together is broken down into different groups, each with their own respective student chairs, in order to effectively accomplish everything.
“It’s a very extensive process. It takes a lot of time and effort from lots of different people. Basically, we have different chairs for different areas. We have a trophy case [banner] chair or a class wall chair or all these different areas and they’re in charge of bringing that one area together,” Ms. Alexis Kleekamp, Student Council advisor, said.
These different groups are all headed by the Overall Homecoming chairs. This year’s overall chairs are Anna Mowry, 10, and Olivia Royal, 10.
“As an overall chair, my job is to people manage. I have to make sure every person is doing their job. I make sure they’re on track,” Mowry said.
Powderpuff
Powderpuff is a Homecoming tradition that combines an action-packed, competitive game with a good cause. Senior and junior women sign up to play flag football against one another in order to raise money for charity. This year, the game will support both Renaissance and the American Red Cross Maui Relief.
Powderpuff also has its own chairs that help coordinate this highly anticipated event. Gabby DeRennaux, 12, and Isabelle Massey, 12 are the senior Powderpuff chairs this fall.
“Powderpuff and Golden Guys chairs are primarily responsible for assisting the amazing teachers who have stepped forward and donated their free time to these activities so that they happen. So they do things like take attendance, design the shirts, etc. That’s primarily their role,” Mr. Gensler said.
DeRennaux notes that not only is the game a fun way for students to get involved in the week’s activities and raise money, it also brings the girls closer together.
“In our grade, there’s a lot of different groups. In Powderpuff everyone is united. There’s a lot of unity to it. Afterward, everyone feels more together,” DeRennaux said.
Golden Guys
Golden Guys is a tradition that goes hand in hand with the Powder Puff game. A similar tradition can be found at schools across the country, however, Eureka puts its own spin on the high school essential.
“Other schools usually do it where the guys are the cheerleaders, typically the football team. I think we just do it a little differently so everyone can be included,” Bennett Bachert, 11, said.
In addition to Bachert, Micheal McAuliffe, 11, and Liam McAuliffe, 11, lead the Golden Guys as this year’s Golden Guys chairs. Eureka’s version of the tradition involves junior and senior guys performing a dance at Powderpuff and the Pep Rally that is choreographed by Goldenline.
“Your job on the team is just to be the most hyped person. It’s just a great way to get involved,” Bachert said. “I’m a very goofy person I guess you could say. It’s fun just messing around with your buddies after school, dancing, just doing stupid stuff in front of the whole school and embarrassing yourself,” Bachert said.
In addition to the chairs, staff members Mrs. Jenni Highfill, Mrs. Ellen Garner, and Mrs. Kari Patterson play a huge role in the production of the Golden Guys dance.
“We just help organize the boys during dance practice. The Goldenline seniors choreograph the routine and then they are the ones who are responsible for teaching it. The three of us supervise and just help clean up the routine,” Mrs. Highfill said.
The Golden Guys dance, similarly to Powderpuff, allows students to participate in the week’s events, regardless of if they are involved in fall sports.
“I think it’s just a really fun opportunity for kids to get involved in Homecoming, that maybe aren’t involved in another school activity. They’re not cheerleaders, they’re not on Goldenline, they aren’t football players, but it’s an opportunity open to juniors and seniors where they can get involved and be a part of it,” Mrs. Highfill said.
Pep Rally
The Pep Rally tradition aims to recognize fall athletes, and performers and above all hype up the students for the Homecoming game. This year, the event is being put together by Dr. David Arledge, Assistant Principal, and Mrs. Jenny Friedman.
“The tradition of the Pep Rally is to bring everyone together to celebrate our awesome athletes and performers, and to recognize our football team on game day. We have amazing kids and staff and we want to highlight that,” Mrs. Friedman said.
The Pep Rally also recognizes the Homecoming Court, a trademark of any high school dance, as well as the grade who had the highest participation in the week’s spirit days.
“At the end of the Pep Rally we will present the Homecoming Court to the entire student body, which makes the rally hugely significant to Homecoming week and the presentation of the spirit trophy to the class with the most participation and school spirit,” Mrs. Friedman said.
Behind the scenes, planning the rally takes a lot of communication with coaches, students, and other staff members to make sure everyone who is participating in the week’s events or fall sports gets the recognition they deserve.
“Mrs. Friedman reaches out to all of the coaches and group sponsors to find out all about their teams and how they’re doing this season, so we can highlight that at the rally. Between performances, we will recognize each of our fall sports teams,” Dr. Arledge said. “It’s just a lot of coordinating with a lot of different teams and sponsors. We have a whole script for the rally that we update from year to year and move around based on the groups who are performing.”
