Homecoming spirits running high

“It’s a really fun time of year,” High School Secretary Kristal Corey said. “Students love having a chance to dress up, and staff even got to participate in Powder Puff for the first time ever this year.”

Ten female members of staff, Corey, Athletic Secretary Alyson Vennewitz and ASB Advisor Robyn Johnsen among them, took to Wahtonka field Wednesday night to form an all-staff offensive against The Dalles High senior girls.

“It was so much fun,” Vennewitz said, putting an emphasis on the ‘so.’ “We had a great time. And I think it’s good for your relationship with students—it’s gives you a whole different level where you can relate to them. Participating in fun things like that is good, because it shows them you know how to play, too.”

Students who participate in the dress-up days or homecoming events like Tuff Puff (boys play volleyball) and Powder Puff (girls play football) events earn spirit points for their class in the competition for a special trip to be taken at the end of the year.

“What’s different about this year is that students can earn points towards the trip over the entire year,” Johnsen said.

“It used to be just during homecoming week, but now that it’s been extended, I think it could help increase students’ engagement in the activities and amp up the spirit and culture of the school—that’s the goal, anyway.”

Students dressed up as wizards and pro-wrestlers appeared very engaged as they played round after round of Just Dance in front of the main office, a musical video game that challenges the player to match the dance moves of the figures on screen.

Spirit points are counted every morning during homecoming and recorded on a bulletin board to display the current rankings.

“We’re treating it kind of like Harry Potter house points this year, in that a number of points can now also be earned through things like keeping a good attendance record,” Johnsen said.

“Except now we’re counting spirit points as ‘eggs’ for the Riverhawks mascot.”

When asked how students were doing in the transition over to the new mascot, Johnsen said most appeared to be adjusting just fine.

“Some kids are having a hard time switching their cheers, but overall it seems the Riverhawk has been embraced,” she said. “But anytime you change the way you do things, it’s always a work in progress.”

Powder Puff was a big hit this year with both students and participating staff, and Friday night kicks off another new tradition.

The school is now sponsoring tailgate parties starting at 5 p.m. before the homecoming games on Friday, with free food for students and plenty of time to allow for friends and families to partake in the pre-game festivities as well.

Johnsen said some regular homecoming activities, such as daily pep assemblies, had to be dialed back this year in order to keep up to speed on the number of instructional hours required.

“Whenever you change things around, you try to introduce a few new, fun things to help balance that out,” Johnsen said. “So far, I think we’re doing a pretty good job of that.”

Due to past safety issues resulting from noise parade participants attempting to climb on top of flatbed trucks while they were in motion, the number of vehicles used in the noise parade were reduced.

This year, The Dalles High football team and cheerleaders each occupied a flatbed in the parade.

The homecoming dance will be held at The Dalles Middle School on Saturday starting at 8 p.m. with the theme, “Grecian Nights.”