by: Adison Poole
Get ready for bonfires, football and dancing.
For the first time in four years, GS will be holding not only several exciting events, but also a school wide Homecoming Dance.
“I’m excited we’re finally having a homecoming this year,” junior Ruby Hohman said. “I think it will be nice since we haven’t gotten to have one in years.”
This year’s Homecoming Dance has raised excitement for many students at GS because unlike the spring prom, this dance will be open to any students throughout the high school, meaning all grades nine through twelve will be welcome to attend.
“I know a few freshmen that are already planning to go,” Hohman said. “So, I’m sure there’s a lot more who will end up coming.”
The dance is not the only event coming up, though. Several other events are taking place this month to raise excitement for this year’s homecoming. Some of the events include activities such as a Senior Sunrise, an after-school bonfire and festival and a Homecoming pep rally. Just like years prior, there was a Homecoming Court that was elected by students and voted on to choose a queen. The winner will be announced at halftime during the football game held the night before the dance.
Calendar of upcoming events that can be found on the first floor by the cafeteria. Photo by: Adison Poole
GS Homecoming Court of 2023: Giavanna Rosensteel, Taylor Carr, Ashlan Price, Natalia Kane, Lea Kasmer, Mackenzie Halfhill and Ella Henry (not pictured: Alethea Tressler) Photo by: Adison Poole
“We planned the homecoming bonfire and senior sunrise before school started,” senior Ashlan Price said. “We also planned out the spirit week ahead of time and the theme for Homecoming.”
The dance itself and many of the events will be inexpensive for students to attend. The Bonfire and festival are free for everyone but bake sales and different activities set up for the festival may cost money so all students planning on coming out are welcome to bring along some extra cash just in case.
“We have a first week special price of $10 a person,” Physics Teacher Mr. Christopher Gazze said. “The second week sale is $15.”
The Homecoming Dance ticket prices are only $10-$15 this year since the dance will be held at GS rather than a hall like many other dances such as prom in the past. Tickets for the dance will be sold any time between the 6th through 20th of September. Mr. Gazze encourages all students to purchase tickets now because no tickets will be sold at the door the night of.
“The bonfire is free to attend,” Gazze explained. “But there will be concessions and other things being sold through various clubs. There will also be food items and drinks there.”
The dance is something quite uncommon at GS. For many years there has not been a Homecoming Dance, but this year students pushed to change that.
“Everyone on SCA executive wanted to have a Homecoming instead of a Christmas Dance,” Price explained.
Price believes that with all the upcoming events surrounding the Homecoming football game “it just made more sense” to have a Homecoming Dance.
Themes for this Homecoming have also already been discussed and decided by SCA members and leaders. The dance will be decorated and based around a time theme.
“This year’s theme for Homecoming is Time is Running Out,” she said. “So, everything will be a clock theme.”
If all goes well this year, GS may have more Homecoming Dances to come in the future. This year will be a trial to see if students would prefer a Homecoming Dance instead of the usual Christmas Dance.
“Everyone in SCA really wanted to have a Homecoming instead of the Christmas Dance,” Price explained. “We felt that it would be more enjoyable, and it is at the beginning of the year, which could make freshmen more open to going.”
SCA hopes that by holding a dance this year, students will have some fun with it and hopefully ask for more in the future. It’s up to students to decide now if this is a dance they want to keep around or if it will stay as a one-time kind of thing every few years.
“I really do hope this year goes well; I think Homecoming is something GS should make permanent,” Hohman said.
The Lions' Den 