MHS invites community to Homecoming Week

By Chris Swords Betts

 

More than 20 students, faculty and community members met on Tuesday evening to continue planning for Maricopa High School’s homecoming festivities.

 

Homecoming will be celebrated in a week-long series of events running from Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, including a district-wide spirit week.

 

“This is all meant to unify the community,” said Jesse Roth, MHS assistant principal. “We want the community to rally around the high school.”

 

Merry Grace, a parent and four-year veteran of the homecoming committee, said each year Homecoming Week gets bigger and better.

 

“The school spirit is contagious,” Grace said.

 

The homecoming parade is back this year. Grace said it will be more of a pep-rally type of parade.
Roth said he would love for students from all district schools, as future Rams, to participate in the parade.

 

The non-motorized parade will begin at Maricopa Wells Middle School at 5 p.m. on Friday of homecoming week.

The parade will head east on Honeycutt Avenue, turn north on Taft and end in the high school courtyard.

 

“We really want to see the community come out and line that route,” Roth said.

 

MHS’s anticipated football game against Ironwood will follow the parade, beginning at 7 p.m. Concessions will open early for mini-tailgating inside the gates.

 

The culminating event of the week, the homecoming dance on Saturday evening, is carnival-themed.

 

Morgan Dalton, MHS teacher and student council advisor, said red-and-white fabric will decorate the MPR room to make it look like the inside of a carnival tent.

 

“The student council has a ton of stuff planned to make it look like a vintage carnival when you walk in,” Dalton said.

 

Grace said participation in homecoming planning has increased this year. However, she said they always need more volunteers, especially the day of Ramfest.

 

“Our kids are taking a lot of pride and ownership in the events,” Dalton said. “The kids are really invested in the high school.”

 

Dalton said she thinks the students’ generation has influenced the increased school pride.

 

“These are the ‘High School Musical’ kids,” Dalton said. “They have that Disney Channel idea of what it should be.”

 

New to the line-up for the week is “RAMily Night” which will be held on Wednesday of Homecoming Week. Community members are encouraged to visit participating local businesses, in exchange for a portion of the proceeds to be donated to the student council.

 

Yogurt Jungle has signed on for RAMily Night. The student council is seeking additional businesses to participate.

 

The student council is also seeking more participants for Paint the Town Red. The best Rams-themed decorated business or nonprofit will win a $200 Visa gift card and a “VIP Homecoming Game Experience.” Voting will take place on Sept. 28.

 

Ramfest, a carnival-themed event, will be held on Thursday evening of Homecoming Week. Businesses, nonprofits and school clubs will set up booths with games.

 

Except for food purchases, Ramfest will be an entirely free event. Food vendors currently include Waffle Love, the Soul Food Shak and Snow King.

 

The alumni football game and the bonfire follow Ramfest in the lineup. Thursday evening events will be held at Copper Sky.

 

Alumni events will be held throughout the week as well, including meet-ups at Headquarters and Elements Event Center.

 

More information on MHS, community-wide and alumni events can be found on the Facebook page “2016 Maricopa High School Homecoming Community Committee.” The committee meets Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the high school library.