TRADITIONS: Poly’s Homecoming Day has distinctive qualities.
By Hannah Lerstad, Staff Writer
Every year, Poly High School celebrates Homecoming in its own unique fashion. On October 20, Poly students will come out and celebrate Homecoming to the theme of “Animation Nation.” The morning will kick off with a pancake breakfast benefiting Poly’s football team, followed by a parade down Central Avenue. There will also be a carnival where students can help support their clubs through revelry, Poly pride and a variety of food. Afterwards, a lip sync and a pep rally will complete the day before the Homecoming Game that evening.
The Poly football team will begin selling pancakes at 7 o’clock in the morning to help fund the football team.
Poly’s distinctive Homecoming parade is one of the oldest and most recognized high school traditions in Riverside. For years, Poly has closed down Central Avenue and marched its floats down this main artery of traffic flow. With cheerleaders on a fire truck, Homecoming couples in convertibles, floats representing each class and the marching band, Poly’s Homecoming parade incorporates a wide range of Poly students.
The carnival allows Poly High students to enjoy the festivities and fund clubs through booths. While some booths focus on carnival-like games, others take advantage of hungry students and sell food and beverages. Spanish Honors Society benefits from the high temperatures by selling snow cones. And as always, French Honors Society will be selling water to combat the ever-present heat. The Asian Student Union will integrate Asian cuisine into the mix by selling egg rolls. Even Spotlight will be setting up a “Spirit Booth,” complete with face-painting and stencilling, to promote Poly Spirit.
The lip sync allows Poly students to strut their stuff at lunch throughout the week leading up to the Homecoming Dance on October 13. Dancing to theme songs from Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network and Looney Tunes television shows gives clubs the opportunity to advance to the final showdown at the Homecoming Game.
To give a final boost of Poly Spirit, the cheerleaders will hold a pep rally in the gym and pump up enthusiasm on Poly’s campus before the big game against Valley View at Ramona’s stadium.
Having prepared for Homecoming for several weeks, Poly cheerleader Celeste Marquez (10) replied, “[I’ve been] staying after school for practices, and doing everything as best as [I] can to get everything perfect.”
Homecoming is one of the most enjoyable days of the year. It gives students a chance to have fun and interact with each other. This year’s theme of “Animation Nation” aims to create a fantastic attitude for students that participate.