New Hartford High School is buzzing with excitement as students eagerly anticipate the upcoming homecoming dance and festivities of spirit week, the pep rally, and the football game. The dance is set to take place on Sunday the 13th of October. The event promises a night filled with music, dancing, and unforgettable memories, marking a highlight in the school’s social calendar!
Homecoming/Spirit Week starts on October 7th. On that Monday and through Thursday, the Student Council will publish Spirit Week day themes. In past years, New Hartford has used some crazy spirit days like “anything but a backpack day” when some students brought pets, shopping carts, and even toy cars in place of typical backpacks. Monday is Pajama Day, Tuesday is Twin Day, Wednesday is Adam Sandler Day, and on Thursday, it will be Red and Blue Day. Students and teachers will hopefully wear some awesome Spirit Day outfits that will be remembered for years to come.
Wednesday, October 9th, the marching band and color guard will lead the annual Homecoming Parade, which will end with the bonfire by the baseball fields that the New Hartford Fire Department helps make happen. New Hartford sports teams and other clubs will create floats and banners that they will display as they march through the village and toward school as they go along the parade path, from the Village Green of Park Street to Pearl Street to Sanger Ave to the High School Parking lot on Daly Place, and ending in the student parking lot on Graham Ave by the baseball fields.
Then, on Thursday, October 10th, all students will be called from their fourth block classes to watch the pep rally that will be held in the gymnasium. The pep rally will include music from members of the band and choir and speeches from captains of fall sports teams. Some seniors and teachers will participate in the “Pie in the Face” contest, which raises funds for charity. Also, cheerleaders will perform a routine that will include the football team again this year and lead all students in cheering the NH Spartan teams to victory in their Homecoming matches.
On Thursday, October 10 here is the “Homecoming” football game that will take place at the home turf, starting at 7 PM. Students and the community will come, show their Spartan pride, and support the team.
A homecoming dance at New Hartford has not happened in about a decade. Ms. Storm, the school librarian who also advises the school’s student council, says, “The last one we had, it was about fifteen years ago, and only a few kids showed up, so we [student council] stopped doing them.”
This year it was one of the student council’s main priorities to somehow make the dance come back, and the officers, Troy Luley, Elena Roberts, Julia Albano, and Julia Battaglia, are excited that they made it happen. They appreciate the support of PTSA which is partnering with the student council to sponsor the homecoming dance in place of the winter dance.
The officers are all seniors this year, and we wanted to leave the school knowing we made this year the best and most fun it could be, so this is something we wanted to make happen to ensure everyone has great school spirit and makes great memories.
This year’s Homecoming Dance will be held in the high school gymnasium on Sunday, October 13th. Tickets were sold last week and the PTSA sold over 400 tickets! The decorations will be Red and Blue themed. A few activities will include a DJ and a photo booth! The Homecoming dance will start at 8 PM. There will be a great turn out and it will be a night to remember years down the road.
Lynn Mizgala, a senior high school student, thinks, “It’s new and going to be fun. I’m excited to see what they do with it,” when talking about the homecoming dance. She also voices that she thinks it will have a good turnout and that, “it will be better than the winter dance too.”
As the anticipated event and week is here, students are filled with excitement and will have an amazing time at this year’s Homecoming dance and Spirit Week. The Student Council hopes these events will enhance school spirit and bring students together as a community.
