CONNEAUT — Homecoming is always a major event for an entire community to enjoy. This year, Conneaut High School celebrated it in a big way.
To start out the festivities, Conneaut High School Pride Committee put on a Spirit Week for the entire school to take part in. The days included Literary Character Day, Salad Dressing Day, Nerd Day, Decade Day and Spartan Spirit Day. Each of these special days gave the students a new way to express their creativity by dressing up to match the day.
Senior Carissa Nardo, who is part of the School Pride Committee, is always an avid participant of Spirit Week. “Spirit Week is very exciting and fun. It allows all students to celebrate their pride for CHS,” she said.
The most important festivities began Oct. 5 and included the pep assembly, Homecoming parade and Homecoming football game.
The pep rally is always a great way to bring the school together as a whole and showcase CHS’s school spirit. The pep rally consisted of introductions of the fall sports teams, band and cheerleaders; class cheer competition; and the first boys versus girls volleyball games with teams of boys and girls from each class facing off against each other. The girls were victorious in the sophomore, junior, and senior class games. After the school day was complete, it was time to get ready for the Homecoming parade. A lot of the students took part. The marching band led off and was followed by the Homecoming Court in their mustang convertibles. The Homecoming Court members included Alyssa Andes, Megan Glass, Jillian Heinonen, Mikahla Passmore, Maria Perkio and Angie Zappitelli. The cheerleaders and class floats followed the court. Class officers organized their class float.
Senior class vice president Michael Mirando was very pleased with his last Homecoming parade. “I thought it was great. All of the students showed amazing school spirit which made it enjoyable for everyone,” he said.
The parade ended at Conneaut’s SPARC (Social Place for Athletics and Community) complex for the football game. The highlight of the evening was the crowning of Alyssa Andes as Conneaut High School Homecoming Queen. Friday night’s activities ended with a tough fought double-overtime loss to Gilmour Academy.
On Saturday, the long awaited Homecoming Dance took place. The dance had a masquerade theme; everyone at the dance received a free mask or hat. The dance also had a photo booth as a new feature where students could pose with their friends with a variety of props.
The sophomore class put on the dance. Class secretary Carly Schreiber was very active in the preparations. “There’s a lot of work that went into making everything for it,” she said. “People may think it’s nothing, but it’s hard to balance out getting things ready for the dance, school work and then other school activities. But all the work we put into the dance was well worth it.”
The dance went from 8 to 11 p.m. in the CHS cafeteria. Homecoming Queen Alyssa Andes shared her favorite part of this cherished night. “I would have to say the senior dance was my favorite. It was nice to see our class come together and share one more memory at our final Homecoming at CHS,” she said. The seniors gathered together in a giant circle on the stage and sang to Green Day’s “Good Riddance.” They ended with a final senior class cheer.
Homecoming was truly a memorable time for all the students of Conneaut High School.
