Homecoming and Spirit Week are unique times of the year – an opportunity for Haldane students to come together as one group to show school pride.
This year, the week started on Tuesday, October 15, and featured a special theme each day for students to participate in. Tuesday was “Rhyme without Reason,”- where students were challenged to dress up as two dissimilar things that rhyme. Haldane highschoolers came up with creative costumes such as: “Ice Spice and Three Blind Mice,” “Brat and Frat,” “Sea Creature and Psych Teacher,” “Super Bowl and Rock n’ Roll,” and “Wall Street and on the Beat.” This clever attire prompted smiles from both fellow students and faculty.
On Wednesday, the prompt was to dress as either : “Country” or “Country Club”, causing hallways to be filled with students wearing straw hats and plaid, or polo shirts and tennis rackets. Senior Caroline Sniffen mentioned that this was her favorite day. “Most people dressed up in every grade, so it was cool to see everyone participating and showing school spirit,” she commented.
Thursday featured themes unique to each grade: Fire Freshmen, Sporty Sophomores, Jackpot Juniors, and Sleepy Seniors. This day was the most competitive as people were clearly separated by grade and focused on preparing their floats, which would be displayed in the pep rally.
Each Friday on the weekend of Homecoming is the featured football game. This year, in advance of the game, the community held a parade in downtown Cold Spring that marched up Main Street to the football stadium in a sea of blue and white. The Haldane chorus performed the National Anthem before the game was played under specially-rented field lights.
The annual Homecoming Dance was held on that Saturday night from 6:30 to 9:00pm. Students dressed in fancy or formal clothing and danced together to requested songs. Senior Kira Drury said one of the best parts of the homecoming dance was: “just dancing around and catching up with friends you don’t see in school as much.” Junior Zane del Pozo noted that the dance “is a way to get students together in an event not part of the school day.”
The cultivation and organization of Haldane’s Spirit Week was spearheaded by the Student Council. As junior Vice President, del Pozo helped plan the week. He stated: “We helped decide the themes for spirit week, how the pep rally is organized, and aspects of the school dance.” The Student Council’s success was evident through the high level of participation shown by students in this year’s Spirit Week.
Spirit Week was a fun way to participate and involve more people in showing school spirit and making fun memories in high school. Freshman Petra Brooks-Saladyga said, “I feel it is important for people from freshman to senior year to connect and bond through activities like football games, dances and pep rallies.” Junior Anna Nelson added, “These traditions are important to Haldane because it shows that you care about the community and your peers.”
