Fort High students are pumped for the start of Homecoming week festivities tonight, although there was strong possibility just a week-and-a-half ago that no activities would be allowed at all.
“There wasn’t supposed to be anything this year,” said Tyson Dennis, a member of the Student Athletic Association at Fort High, adding the cancellation stemmed “from things that happened last year.”
Fighting erupted at last year’s Homecoming activities, noted Dennis, which school administration wanted to avoid this year.
But, the Student Athletic Association and Student Executive Council jointly approached school administration asking that they be allowed to plan the activities this year.
“We fought for it and got it back,” Dennis said of their successful petition.
He explained there were assurances that chaperones would be welcomed at all events, as well as a police escort for the parade prior to Friday afternoon’s football game between the Muskies and Churchill Bulldogs.
“Administration is really pro-Homecoming,” said SEC president Doug Judson, indicating it wasn’t out of malice that the school originally put the kibosh on events.
Now that the events once again are authorized, there’s one thing Dennis believes will keep students from misbehaving a second time.
“The idea of it being cancelled again,” he remarked. “People have that in the back of their mind.
“People learned that last year,” he added. “It’s not just a threat.”
Homecoming week is something students look forward to every year, said Dennis, and so it’s something they will try to protect.
“I’m always excited. [Homecoming] is the best part of the year,” he enthused.
Activities begin tonight with a kick-off concert from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre. “We’re trying something different,” said Judson.
The concert will feature three student bands, including the Andrew George Show, The FuFu’s, and The Millionfish. All three play a little different music, from softer rock and heavy metal to more alternative sounds.
“We’re having them play a few sets,” noted Dennis, who added tickets cost $2 and will be available at the door, though seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis as the theatre only holds 400.
“Hopefully, we’re going to make this an annual thing,” he said of the concert. “It’s the big pick-up for the [football] game on Friday.”
The idea came from other public concerts that have been held successfully. They wanted to appeal to more of the students, “since dances haven’t gone as well in the past.”
Still, a Homecoming dance is slated tomorrow night (Thursday) starting at 7:30 p.m. in the school gym. The dance isn’t a formal event, according to Dennis, and also will feature the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen.
The big football game is Friday, with kick-off slated for 4 p.m. But the game isn’t the only thing planned, though.
“Friday is Black-and-Gold Day,” Dennis enthused, meaning students are encouraged to dress in those colour, as well as paint their faces in support of the team.
Everything gets started with the homecoming parade, which Judson said will leave from the St. Francis Sportsfield parking lot at 2:20 p.m. It will make its way north on McIrvine Road to Fifth Street West and then head east to Portage Avenue.
At Portage, the parade will turn south to Second Street East, head east to Armit Avenue, and then south again to Scott Street. It will return to the high school via Central Avenue and King’s Highway.
Judson said anyone wishing to enter a float in the parade has until tomorrow (Thursday) to pick up an entry form from the main office at the high school and return it by the end of the day.
At 3:30 p.m., player introductions will begin on the football field. And during halftime of the game, there will be a ball-throwing contest among other fun events.
Dennis said there also will be people giving away prizes in the stands during the game, and indicated chaperones and school staff will be on hand to help police the event.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
