While many students are busy picking out fancy outfits and planning getting-ready playlists, a different type of work is happening in the weeks leading up to homecoming. Behind the glittering decorations, the busy DJ and a crowded dance floor is the GHS Student Council who spend hours making sure the tradition of homecoming comes to life. The homecoming week kicks off every day with a theme to wear to school, with the football game tonight, Sept. 11, starting at 7 p.m.. The homecoming dance follows the football game the next day on Friday, Sept. 12, in the main gym of GHS at 9 p.m.
On homecoming night, students will push through the gym doors and into a world of twinkling lights, balloon arches, and banners—an atmosphere crafted by GHS students, which is led by Stu Co President Kelsey Van Waart and advisor Tyler Garder. Every detail, from picking the theme to ordering decorations, is chosen by students, making homecoming truly their event. Garder said he enjoys being the advisor for the student council and he wants to give the students space to advocate for themselves.
“I try to keep my hands off as much as possible, because it is their event and not my event,” Garder said. “I push people to advocate for things they want even if they think they’ll get shot down.”
The student council started homecoming spirit week with pajamas and pancakes, and continued the week with student favorites: dress your grade, country vs. country club, USA, and golden days. When planning homecoming, the group of students’ first step is discovering a theme that works best by looking at past designs and themes, so they can obtain something different. They come together with meetings before school and in AEP to discuss designs, decoration and iron out any kinks they may find. The DJ is booked in the summer to ensure the music and the decorations are ordered towards the end of August to the beginning of September to fill the dull and wide area of the school gym. On the day of homecoming, the student council arrives early to transform the gym with decorations, then stays late into the night, popping balloons and clearing streamers to return the space to normal for Monday morning classes.
Even with months of planning, last-minute hiccups still happen, like missing decorations or a balloon order that doesn’t add up. Van Waart said she has learned not to sweat the small stuff and tries to live by her favorite motto.
“My best motto is what they don’t know won’t kill them,” Van Waart said. “If there is a section of wall that is supposed to have balloons but doesn’t, no one is going to know, and, ultimately everything will be fine. And all you can do is brush it off.”
The week of homecoming is a chaotic time for the student council, but they always stick together and are always willing to be involved in the decorating and planning. Van Waart said her absolute favorite parts of the group take place around homecoming time.
“I love that every single person on student council is so willing to help, like, whether that’s setting up the days before or taking down at 11 at night, they’re always willing to help out,” Van Waart said. “You don’t have to beg them to help; they will do anything.”
Homecoming is a school tradition that brings many things together, including the school community. It means many things to different people, but to Garder, it means different groups of people coming together to have fun all together.
“I think that my favorite part of homecoming is going into the gym and knowing that it is a really fun song, because everyone is dancing together, screaming and getting excited,” Garder said.
Van Waart also said she believes that homecoming brings out the school community in so many of the best ways. For most students, homecoming is about laughing, dancing and celebrating together. But for the council that makes it happen, the real magic is knowing their months of work created those moments.
“I think that it’s a super fun event. There’s definitely a large mix of students that come to this event, and just being able to get out there on the dance floor and have a good time,” Van Waart said.
