Homecoming festivities planned at area schools

Sanders County schools are gearing up for homecoming week with plans for parades, parties and dances. Traditions abound as schools get in the spirit to support their football, cross country and volleyball teams through pep rallies, activities and wacky apparel.

Noxon High School’s homecoming week runs September 24-29, with a school spirited theme, “The Devil’s Circus.” To keep students in the homecoming mindset, dress-up days will take place all week. Monday will be “mismatch day,” where students don clashing clothes. Monday is also the day work begins on floats for the parade. Tuesday will be “twin/dynamic duo day,” with students pairing up with look-alike outfits or hero and sidekick costumes. Tuesday will find the volleyball team taking on Troy at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday is “beach day,” where beach balls and sunglasses will be an accessory to board shorts and hula gear (a message from the school office reminded students that all dress code rules apply – so no bikinis or bare chests). Wednesday will also be the coronation and the pep rally with a guest speaker, as well as “bolleyball” at 6 p.m., the powderpuff game at 7:30 p.m., bonfire at 8:30 p.m. and class competitions at 9 p.m. Thursday is “gender day,” where students are invited to dress up as a man or a woman. Thursday also has the volleyball team scheduled to take on Plains. Friday is the football game against Gardiner, as well as the presentation and introduction of royalty during halftime of the varsity game. Friday is also “jersey swap/red and white day,” with school colors and logos filling the halls and featured on apparel. Saturday, the volleyball team will take on St. Regis, with the homecoming dance following that evening.

Also preparing homecoming for the week of September 24-28, is Plains High School. Dress up days include “PJ day” on Monday, when students and staff will roll out of bed to arrive at school in pajamas. Tuesday is “teacher day,” as students dress like their favorite teacher. Wednesday will be “duo day,” with twins and look-alikes roaming the halls. Wednesday will also have the school bonfire in the back parking lot of the campus beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday is “celebrity day,” which will have spirited Horsemen and Trotters imitating their favorite famous people. Friday is “orange and black day,” as the staff and student body proudly sport their school colors and participate or spectate during the homecoming parade, scheduled for noon. Spectators will be able to vote for their favorite float from the parade when they enter the homecoming football game versus St. Ignatius. A tailgate barbecue will take place 5:30 p.m. with burgers and dogs served up by the booster club. Beginning at 6 p.m., Mrs. Cole’s Art Club will be offering face painting in the spirit of homecoming.

Thompson Falls High School will kick off their homecoming week with a “DC versus Marvel” dress-up day, Monday, Sept. 24. Tuesday, each class will represent a decade with freshman taking on 50’s attire, the sophomores dressing as the 70’s, juniors in the 80’s and seniors donning the style of the 90’s. “Duo day” on Wednesday will have epic partnerships represented. Wednesday is also the annual Blue Hawk Olympics, and the public is invited to the football field to witness hilarious events and competitions to determine the winning class for homecoming. Since there is no school Friday, Thursday will be the day of the homecoming parade, beginning 2 p.m. It was noted that the Department of Transportation set new rules on utilizing public roadways for parades – at the time of print, the approval was in the process but looked like a “go.” Thursday is also “blue and gold” dress-up day, and the nominees for homecoming royalty will be presented in the gymnasium that morning, as well as more Blue Hawk games. Despite no classes Friday, the football team will take on the Loyola Rams for the homecoming game that evening and the homecoming dance will take place in the gym immediately following the gridiron battle.

The Savage Heat at Hot Springs High School have homecoming week set for October 1-6 before the football team takes on Lincoln on Friday, October 5. While there will be activities all week to stoke the fires of the Heat, the highlights include a dodgeball competition on Wednesday and the annual parade through downtown Thursday at 1:30 p.m. There is a bonfire set for right after the football game and the homecoming dance will take place Saturday at 8 p.m.