"Homecoming 2008 may be the start of new traditions"

Have Our Traditions Been Thrown Out the Window?

By Jorden Cappiello- 10/08
NEIRAD enilno edition

With Homecoming quickly approaching on October 25, many DHS students are wondering whether or not some exciting Spirit Week traditions will carry on, after talk that they may be taken away.  Field Day and Best of the Best, the two activities that, for some students, have come to define Homecoming week, have possibly been cancelled.

Principal Dan Haron is talking with Community Council looking for a change in structure to the previous Field Day.  “The unfortunate behavior at last year’s Field Day certainly did have an impact on the faculty and administration’s view of the event,” Mr. Haron said, “It prompted us to find a new and better way to deal with it this year.”
Field Day events were off to a great start last year, but by the time the tug-of-war began between juniors and seniors, students from many classes corrupted the atmosphere.  Upperclassmen charged the field, while others started yelling inappropriate chants from the stands.  Principal Haron agrees with many that last year’s senior class was the most unruly that day; however, it is clear that there was blame to go all around.  “Last year’s seniors are mostly at fault for the mishaps of Field Day,” commented current senior Kevin Knapp while Peter Duker said, “However our class (this year’s seniors) was wrong for charging the field.”

The change that both the administration and the faculty want to see this year is more unity.  They are looking to tone down the rivalry among classes and between teams.  “Homecoming should be a week where our school comes together rather than be fractured and have rivalries amongst ourselves,” explained Mr. Haron.

He agrees that Field Day had some potential of becoming a nice tradition, however, thinks we can find an equally enjoyable alternative that is less likely to encourage the type of behavior we witnessed last year.  Another tradition, Best of the Best, is tentatively cancelled because of the poor behavior of teams and individuals in past years.

Best of the Best is clearly labeled a Depot event, and has no connection to being a DHS Homecoming activity, however has been a fun and important tradition in which many sports teams participated.  The Director of the Depot, Janice Marzano, held a fall captain’s dinner on September 11 where she talked to the captains about the future of the controversial activity.  She described the situation as being difficult, because she loves to host events for DHS students, but understands the administration’s concerns about the inappropriate behavior at Best of the Best in past years.  Marzano, along with seniors Catherine Stineman and Mike Muney, are working towards hosting a “Blue Wave Pep Rally” at the Depot replacing the Best of the Best competition.  This Pep Rally would be similar in the sense that teams could go together and have a great time; however the activities and behavior would be much more appropriate.  In order to hold this event, sports team captains were asked to get permission from their coaches, and approach Athletic Director John Keleher, with a promise that their team will behave at the event.  After the team captains talk to Mr Keleher, the administration may allow Janice to hold this pep rally at the Depot during Homecoming week.

Although Field Day and a Depot-sponsored Blue Wave Pep Rally may not be happening, Marzano, Stineman, and Muney came up with an idea to occupy one night of the Homecoming week: a Team Trivia Night.  Details are not set yet, but the plan is for sports teams to compete against each other answering questions on all types of topics.

While Homecoming 2008 may be the start of new traditions, there is no doubt that the students of DHS will show their Blue Wave Pride and continue to carry on the great spirit famously demonstrated by our school!