This last week Live Oak High School celebrated one of its
biggest events of the year – Homecoming. Preparations for this
stressful week always begin months ahead of time to ensure the
completion of the ever-popular float parade, spirit week
activities, rally and game strategies.
This last week Live Oak High School celebrated one of its biggest events of the year – Homecoming. Preparations for this stressful week always begin months ahead of time to ensure the completion of the ever-popular float parade, spirit week activities, rally and game strategies.
The week started off just like any other Monday except that the majority of the student population was in their PJs. Yes, it was the start of another wonderful Spirit Week with the first day being none other than Pajama Day. At lunch there was a milk chug for the spirit game and although a few people got sick, it was well received by the crowd.
Tuesday brought a terrifying flashback to many of the teachers as the day was dedicated to the 80s. Students, mainly girls, came dressed in cut-up sweatshirts, wide belts, leg warmers, acid-wash denim, Keds, pumps, crimped hair, side ponytails and the amazingly well-liked (mainly by boys)…spandex. For the lunch-time activity there was an 80s dance contest that brought some moves that would make Michael Jackson jealous.
On Wednesday, Live Oak transformed into its own stereotype. Yes, it was Hobo/Hillbilly day complete with freckles, pigtails, facial hair and ‘coon tail hats. There was also an unusual abundance of apple pies at Live Oak so some of those crazy hillbillies could have a pie eating contest for the lunch-time activity. It was a good thing that Thursday brought cooperative weather because many students dressed to impress for Hawaiian Day. At lunch there was a hula contest and although it wasn’t necessarily “hula” dancing, it was still a success. By Friday, the tensions were at an all-time high for everyone.
The Friday Homecoming Rally got everyone’s spirit up. The cheerleaders, song girls and dance company performed. Next came all the club queens and class-elected princesses. The suspense came to a boil when to everyone’s surprise, the homecoming queen was not announced. She would be announced at the game later that night. To finish off the rally, each class’ secret homecoming theme was revealed. The Seniors showed an amazing display of hard work with a huge canvas painting of pirates, and an enormous cardboard ship that was carried all around the gym . The Juniors came out dancing to the old Halloween favorite, The Monster Mash, and the Sophomores walked across the gym dressed as Gilligan and all the gang.
Each class is always hard pressed for time when organizing their floats. These unique constructions never fail to be the main event of the Main Street parade on game day. This year the Seniors (as always) took first place for their Pirates of the Caribbean float. The 40-foot-long flatbed was transformed into the S.S. Seniors and all aboard were decked out in their Captain Jack Sparrow attire. The Juniors, taking third place this year, scared everyone to death with their clever Halloween-themed float.
On the backdrop was painted a large haunted house with graves of the long lost Seniors accenting the full acorn moon. The class of 2006 took second place with their Gilligan’s Island float. It featured real palm trees, real sand and even the S.S. Minnow. It doesn’t matter who won or lost the competition because each class worked hard and did an excellent job.
Also in the parade were the club queens and their escorts. Each club at school was represented not only by lovely young ladies but by some very nice cars!
The royal club queens were Stephanie Chak for ASU, Jennifer Mason for Key Club, Catriona Adams for Film Appreciation Club, Shelbe Peschke for Drama Club, Mallarie Stevens for CSF, Liz Minton for Animation Club, Megan Dunckel for Student Art Society, Jessilyn Haines for Interact Club, Shanna Porcari for Jazz Appreciation Club, Michelle Soult for German Club, Blair Redmond for BSU, Nina Grimm for Graphics Club, Brigette Bonfiglio for FFA, Julia Rosenberg for Mock Trial, Anna Green for French Club, Cindy Hernandez for MECHA Club, Kim Wakatsuki for FBLA, Isabel Paniahua for Teach for Tomorrow, Christina Espinosa for GSA, Gabby DeLaTorre for Broadcasting Club, Kathleen Ramirez for Photo Club and Mattie Smith for Christian Club.
Everyone looked gorgeous in their sparkling crowns and cute outfits and especially in their cars!
Aside from the club queens we had the Homecoming class queens and princesses. The Sophomore elected princess was Julie Jacobson and for the Juniors it was Lizzy Ritti. The four Senior elected princesses were Jesse Graves, Allison Mutz, Nicole Morrison and Natasia Sennert. This year’s Homecoming Queen was crowned at Varsity half-time on Friday night –
Congratulations Bree Merrick. Also, this year’s faculty queen was Mary Debenidetti and the faculty king was Brett Lee.
The game on Friday was definitely exciting but the highlight of the night was half-time. The Live Oak Emerald Regime played and wowed the crowd with their tricky formations and flawless playing. The color guard was also out there with the band. They too had a marvelous performance. But this was nothing compared to what came next. If you were awake Friday night and heard some strange noises around 8 o’clock, you were hearing fireworks. It was amazing, almost as good as the 4th of July show but this was completely unexpected. Those who have heard about them underestimated how magnificent they would be and were ultimately blown away. It’s funny that no matter how many fireworks shows one sees, they never get old and they are never forgotten.
This half-time show restored Live Oak’s spirit and awakened the Varsity football team who were to score twice in the next half. Although the team didn’t win the game, they didn’t really lose either. The whole school plus the parents and the faculty put all their pride and spirit into that team and in the end, it made for the best Homecoming Live Oak has ever seen.
Megan Hamilton, a junior, is student government spirit week comissioner at Live Oak. She and other student officers write a weekly column on a rotating basis.
