Troy gears up for Homecoming 2015
<p>Troy homecoming king and queen Payton Scott and Brenna Garrison.</p>
<p>Troy homecoming Queen Andrea Mack and King Levi Lawson. Sept. 27, 2013</p>
<p>Mason Chapel, left, Gabe Hickman, Kellie Lundin, Ben Haggerty, Cheyenne Jordan, Princess Allie Brown, Prince Ty Hight, King Levi Lawson, Queen Andrea Mack, Luke Haggerty, Katie Lundin, Becca Rotolo, Nathan Olds, Megan Hight, Bruce Metz and Baylee Burk.</p>
Troy’s homecoming festivities begin Monday, and both the students and the broader Troy community have a variety of entertaining activities in store for them, in addition to the first (at least in recent history) football game with neighbor and rival, Libby.
“Homecoming is such an important time for our students to connect with the larger Troy community and to kick off the school year,” said Troy Superintendent Dr. Jacob Francom. “It allows students to build school spirit for the year and to have some fun. The student council has spent a lot of time and energy organizing and planning the homecoming activities. They meet each morning and we are excited for the activities of homecoming.”
Student council members Sarah Pierce, Riley Maggi and Connor Quiring, along with faculty advisor Kyla Grose, have spearheaded this year’s homecoming plans.
“I have the best group of kids ever,” Grose said. “They’re a great group who like to get stuff done. They’re trying to make positive changes in the school and community.”
Each of the four days in the shortened school week has a number of activities planned. Every day will have a dress-up theme, with both students and faculty participating. An advisory assembly game activity, in conjunction with the homecoming week theme of games, will also take place every morning, based upon a popular television game show. A week-long round robin style dodgeball tournament will take place every day during the lunch break, with a night activity after school.
Monday is zombie day, with a game of Fear Factor in the morning. A crowd favorite, the guys’ volleyball tournament, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening.
“We did it last year and it was a big hit,” Maggi said. “We do powderpuff football, too, so why not a guys’ volleyball?”
Tuesday is twin day, with students and faculty pairing up to dress as twins. The morning game will be Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? The evening activity, a scavenger hunt, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Teams are limited to a maximum of four people per team, but there is no limit on the number of teams. The grand prize is $50, donated from the Student Council fund.
Wednesday the students will dress as their favorite Disney characters and begin the day with a game of Don’t Forget the Lyrics. There will be a game night, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the student bonfire starting at 8 p.m.
“All the wood for the bonfire was donated by Larry Chapel,” Pierce said. “He charged us a box of maple bars.”
The students have coordinated with the City of Troy and the fire department to ensure the safety of the students and the public during the bonfire event.
Thursday is the final school day of the short week, and students are encouraged to dress in a way to display their school spirit. The morning game will be Minute to Win It. The pep rally will take place Thursday afternoon, at which the top two classes will battle for the dodgeball championship. The school has its first outside competition of homecoming week Thursday night, with a volleyball game against Eureka at 7 p.m.
The main events are scheduled for Friday, with the parade line-up at the Troy Museum at 4:30. The parade route goes down U.S. Highway 2, turning on Yaak Avenue and ending at the elementary school. Royalty photos will be taken at the museum at 5 p.m., just before the parade begins. The football game is set for a 7 p.m. kick-off.
“Ever since the boys found out we would be playing Libby, they have been excited,” said Troy head coach Brendan Miller. “Once they found out it was for homecoming, they couldn’t believe it. I have been asked about it by numerous people around town all summer. The energy level of the town has been building and I expect an amazing atmosphere for the game. Troy has wanted to have this game for a long time and I am sure Libby will be fired up for it as well. I can guarantee that this game will be a hard hitting game with both sides looking to take this long awaited contest between towns so close to each other that finally get to battle on the field.”
The week will wrap up with a volleyball match at noon Saturday against Bigfork, at which time the Spirit Stick will be awarded to the class which accumulates the most points during Homecoming week. The Homecoming dance, in the elementary school foyer, begins at 9 p.m. and ends at midnight.
Francom praised the efforts of the council in planning the celebration.
“They are great kids and have done such a great job in planning for Homecoming and the entire school year,” he said. “They have some high goals focusing on improving the school culture and spirit.”