HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Homecoming, an annual tradition

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By Kylie Hyde, Clayton Ridge freshman

GUTTENBERG - Homecoming is an annual event when high school, college and university alumni are invited back to their alma maters to celebrate the bond they have with their schools.

Football games, dances and other events are some of the activities available during homecoming.

Homecoming also provides an opportunity for reconnecting with old friends, for having a good time and for the girls show off their latest fashions. The boys are less enthusiastic about dressing up, but they do anticipate going to the homecoming dance with the prettiest girl in school. For current students, homecoming is special because that is when we can take a break, have fun with friends, relax and not worry about other drama going on in the school.

Each school has its own traditions for celebrating homecoming, including an annual costume party, a Speedo dash, a spirit splash, powder puff football games, ironman volleyball games, 5K runs, TPing faculty homes, bonfires and a small-town parade in the big city.

This year for homecoming, the Clayton Ridge students dressed up each day of the week to show school spirit. Themes included neon day, cowgirl/cowboy or America day, Hawaiian day, throwback day (when we dressed in styles from past decades) and, of course, Eagle Pride day. Thursday afternoon, students are led to the gym  by the Marching Eagles for our big pep rally that celebrates our fall sports.

Another major tradition is our homecoming parade, held on Friday afternoon before the big game. Students are released from first period after attendance is taken and each class meets to create the best float for the parade. Floats are designed around a theme. This year's theme was Decades and the winning float, a 1950s diner, was designed and produced by the sophomore class. Float construction is followed by a picnic lunch, after which all the marchers get ready for the parade.

The Marching Eagles, fall sports teams, cheerleaders, drill team, exchange students and the homecoming court are joined by a color guard, area police departments, fire departments, ambulance crews and various other organizations to glory in our community.

Friday night, of course, is the big homecoming game. This year, Clayton Ridge annihilated Bellevue, scoring 35 unanswered points. Last year's Homecoming queen runner-up, Hannah VonHandorf, crowned the 2013 Homecoming queen, Katie Fassbinder, with Dylan Preston being crowned 2013 Homecoming king by 2012 king Logan Puelz.

The end of the week was marked by the student senate-sponsored homecoming dance on Saturday night in the Clayton Ridge High School gymnasium.