Homecoming; The Game, a Queen, and a Dance

On September 23, the Fair Grove Student Council hosted the annual Homecoming Dance, which began after the school’s homecoming football game and lasted until 11 o’clock.

After the Fair Grove Football team’s big win against Stockton (50-14), high school students filled the courtyard to celebrate homecoming, the announcement of the year’s homecoming senior royalty, Kloe Hart, and to just have a fun time.  

“The homecoming football game is a community tradition in which we welcome home alumni and celebrate afterward with a dance for current students,” stated Mr. Van Cleave, the Student Council sponsor. 

The theme of last Friday’s dance was “Denim and Diamonds” and the dress code was casual, meaning whatever you wear to the game, you wear to the dance. It was just a time for the high school students to come together and hang out. 

RayAnn Hupman (12), the Fair Grove High School Student Council President shared, “I’m excited for them to experience a normal dance and its environment. Due to Covid-19 it’s all been a little different over the years and I’m ready to get back to normal; to give the students something fun.” 

The week leading up to the homecoming dance the high school student council had a spirit week to raise the school spirit. They promoted daily themes like Adam Sandler vs. Jennifer Aniston, Surfers vs. Bikers, Little Miss vs. White lies, and on the last day it was Denim and Diamonds. 

In preparation for the dance, the student council also worked to decorate the courtyard, book a DJ, provide food and drinks for the dance, and plan a highly active and fun assembly for the Friday of the game. They also handled the election process for the election of the class royalty. All of this planning starts weeks before the homecoming game in an effort to encourage students to be involved. Hupman said, “Quite a bit of planning goes into it. We have lots of meetings just to talk about it and then the day of the event students are setting up all day long.”

“When planning something like this it is really easy to come up with fun ideas, sometimes intricate, sometimes extravagant,” explained Taylor Rode (12), “but taking a step back and looking at it from another student’s perspective, often these big extravagant events are too much and are often not appreciated or noticed. So I always keep in mind that sometimes bigger isn’t better and just keeping something basic is okay.”

With all the time spent planning spirit days and the pep assembly, working hard on providing food and drink, booking a DJ, and making homecoming happen, the student council was hoping for a strong turnout at the dance; they were excited to see the other students having fun. After the dance Hupman proudly shared, “I think the dance went very well, and that students really enjoyed it.”