Homecoming is one of the most anticipated events of the school year, and it is coming up quick! On Saturday, October 7th, Mariemont Warriors will be hitting the dance floor, making great high school memories. Aside from the dance itself, there are plenty of other exciting activities leading up to the big day, from building parade floats, to dressing up for Spirit Week (Oct. 2-7)
Every year there is a school-wide float theme. This year,each grade level will be inspired by different artist: seniors have Vincent Van Gogh; juniors have Monet; sophomores have Michelangelo; and freshmen have Matisse.
However, this wasn’t a quick decision. Shortly after the Student Council makes its decision, official float designs are made and materials gathered. The only thing missing is a specific building location where only that grade is permitted. This allows for there to be a surprise when the floats are shown during the parade.
The float building is an exciting activity to participate in during the weeks leading up to the parade.
Sophomore class president, Jonathan Hester, reflected on what he learned from the process of working with his peers to create the freshman float last year. Hester states, “It’s a great way to bond with the class and figure out how to be an effective and likable leader.”
It’s not only a way to connect with friends and the community, it also provides an excellent leadership opportunity for high school students.
Sophomore Representative, Camryn Martin, also shared her input about how this tradition positively impacted her high school experience. Martin recalls, “I was amazed by the sense of community I felt when working with my whole grade on one project.” Martin continues to say, “I’m really looking forward to seeing what everyone brings this year and what we are able to create.”
Another tradition taking place at MHS is Spirit Week. Spirit week is a 6-day period of fun themes for students to follow as they dress up and show class spirit. In 2022, the themes consisted of “Adam Sandler Day” and “Dress Like a Celebrity.” This year’s themes: Monday: USA, Tuesday: Tye-dye, Wednesday: Barbie v Oppenheimer, Thursday: Blue and Gold, and Friday: Class Shirt Day.
Sophomore representative, Curtis Buswell says, “I really enjoy the tradition of planning out spirit week and making the days leading up to Homecoming more enjoyable.” Buswell also adds, “it’s a way to bring the school together and help create a fun experience.”
Anticipation mounts during the annual pep rally held in the gym on Friday, the day before the dance. Members of the cheerleading squad and MHS band help create an exciting environment for the big football game later that evening. The bleachers become filled with each grade in their class shirts, ready to cheer on the Warriors who will play against the Wyoming Cowboys.
Varsity Cheerleader, Lillah Zaveri, shared that “I really liked when we got to dance with the teachers last year.” Zaveri continues, “Also when we all do the ‘do it’ cheer, it gets really exciting!”
Homecoming is a time of school spirit and traditions where the entire school comes together to celebrate, unify, and have fun. From the float building, to spirit week, to the pep rally and dance. The spirit that is made during this week is unmatched anywhere else in the year. And with the dance just a few days, the excitement is building. We can’t wait to see what fun memories will come from this homecoming season!
