Homecoming Makeover

Here’s something most students at DHS don’t even know exists, the Homecoming Parade. Held on Saturday morning, the parade begins at the Depot at 12:30 and ends at the High School. Currently, the only people in the parade are the class officers and the Homecoming court. However, the parade is an opportunity to show the town of Darien what a fantastic place DHS is and an opportunity to show off our spirit. Of course the homecoming court and the class officers should still ride in cars and wave, but the people that elected them should be present as well. I put forward the idea that the entire student body marches in the parade. The marching band and the cheerleaders should be followed by the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes.

Leading each class would be a banner, designed and decorated by those who follow it, and the class officers and Homecoming court members. Following them would be a float and then the entire class, donning their class tee-shirt (or whatever they choose to wear). While I know the float seems a little out there, I have seen it done by high school students just like us. First, a family, preferably one with a large driveway, volunteers to house the float. Then, for about a month leading up to homecoming, the entire grade, or whoever can come gets together for “float parties” and builds the float. The float can be anything to go along with the theme chosen by the grade, but it provides the students to get together and put their ideas to work and create something as a team, it’s amazing what teamwork and some chicken wire can do.
Another point of the parade is to lead the school to the football game. The football game is the culminating event of homecoming week. Football seems to be a big deal everywhere else in the country and I don’t know why it isn’t here. At the game, students should be seated in one section of the bleachers, separated from the other spectators. The students should have organized cheers and it should be an enjoyable time for everyone.

Currently, it seems as if there are more middle school students at the football game than actual DHS students. The student body seems to be able to rally together and support the hockey team in the winter, why can’t we do the same thing for the football team in the fall?

One last thing about homecoming that could use a makeover, the dance. Bottom line, if no one goes to the dance, it won’t be fun. I can’t believe that students don’t go because of the breathalyzer, that’s a ridiculous excuse. Every single DHS student is under 21, and thus shouldn’t be drinking, so why is the breathalyzer a big deal? The dance is students’ opportunity to celebrate the fun week they had and the (hopefully) successful football game. It is the student body’s last opportunity to come together and celebrate the one thing they all have in common, their school. I highly encourage students to go to the dance, the more people go, the more fun it is.

As you can see, Homecoming here at DHS has some problems. Luckily, Community Council is trying to make the week a more enjoyable time for EVERYONE, not just the sports teams. But they can’t do it alone. In order for any homecoming events to be fun, students need to be involved and excited about them. I know it’s difficult to be excited about something that has been a disappointment in the past, but remember, it’s your school whether you like it or not. Homecoming week is a chance to express your SCHOOL spirit, not your sports.

Homecoming Makeover

Will Homecoming problems be fixed this year?

By Andi Cara - October 2009

Let’s face it; our Homecoming here at DHS is pathetic. Sure, Blue Wave Pride day is fun for the 657 kids who play fall sports, but what about the rest of us? Here’s a scenario: A DHS student plays a fall sport their freshman year because the sport didn’t cut freshman. They had a great time, especially during Homecoming week and couldn’t wait to play the next year. The following fall rolls around the student looks forward to another great season. But then, they get cut and it’s too late to join another sport. The student is fine not playing a sport, and soon its Homecoming week. Monday to Thursday isn’t that bad, as the school seems to be going about its business as usual. Yet, the end of the week, the student must live through Friday, Blue Wave Pride day. To the student, it seems that only the sports teams are participating; only the sports teams are recognized as a valuable part of the DHS community. It wasn’t that the student didn’t want to play a sport, they tried, but failed, and now they must be reminded of the fact that they were cut. At the pep rally, while the student is squeezed in with the other students who chose not to do sports or weren’t able to play sports and it seems like someone is telling them that they don’t matter.

Clearly, Homecoming here at DHS needs a makeover. Homecoming is supposed to bring the school together as a community, not separate us into groups. It should be a fun week for the entire student body, and it starts with spirit week.

Sprit week should be a chance for students to showcase their school spirit, and I don’t see how dressing like a “tacky tourist” allows students to do that. Because so few students dress up, students are afraid to wear a costume, fearing they will be the only one. Besides, who really wants to dress like a pirate? However, the main problem with spirit week is that it’s too complicated! Of course students don’t dress up, no one knows what they’re supposed to be! The “themes” change every year and the students have no say in what they get to be. Sprit week should allow student groups to showcase their spirit and individuality. And what is the only group at DHS every student is a part of? Their grade.

Now I know the school administration usually looks down upon segregation by grade, but it is the only thing that encompasses all students. Again, Homecoming is an opportunity to not only bring the school closer as a group, but for students to bond as a class. Thus, I propose that spirit week be centered on the different classes. Monday will be designated to the freshman, Tuesday to sophomores, Wednesday to juniors, Thursday for seniors, and the week will end by bringing these groups together on Blue Wave Pride day. Each grade will have a theme, chosen by the members of that grade, for example the Super Sophomores. On the grades designated day, members of the class will have the opportunity to decorate the school with posters, banners, etc. and dress up according to their theme. The grade may choose to order class tee-shirts or whatever they please, but each day of the week would be designated specifically for one grade until they all come together to celebrate their Blue Wave Pride.

Another flaw in the DHS homecoming tradition is field day. Let me just say, field day is a waste of the student body’s time! Of course everyone says “no, we have to keep it, its tradition!” But think about it, how much fun have you really had at field day (even when the teams were separated by grades)? Personally, I don’t want to sit on the bleachers and watch the “popular” kids compete. Field day should either include activities the entire student body can participate in, or be canceled. Sure, it’s a tradition, but I would rather have no tradition at all than one I find pointless and unenjoyable.

A second activity in the Homecoming schedule that needs to be remodeled is the pep rally. Pep rallies are supposed to bring the entire student body together to get them excited about an upcoming game. I have no idea where the school got the idea that a pep rally should showcase all the sports teams while the rest of the school population is smushed in the bleachers to watch the sports teams cheer. Sure, the sports teams should be recognized, they work hard, but I guarantee that every student sitting/standing in the bleachers works hard in some way as well. What the pep rally needs is organized cheers and separation by grade, not by sport. Again, the pep rally, and homecoming in general, are meant to get students excited about their school, not to showcase the talents of some while the rest are left wondering “what about me? Am I not a member of this school community? Why isn’t my contribution to this school being recognized?”

homecoming 2008