Gainesville —
Leopard pride is in full swing as Gainesville High School gears up for its annual Homecoming celebration.
When students return from the long weekend, they’ll set the mood with spirit days, a pep rally and a parade, all to culminate Friday for football and the official opening of the recently completed Leopard Stadium.
Class officers, along with Student Council Sponsor Jeff Gerken, have been busy making preparations since the summer.
“They’ve been working really hard,” Gerken said of his students.
Festivities officially began Friday when the underclassmen Homecoming court was announced during a pep rally.
Junior princess Loreli Rodriguez, along with sophomore and freshman princesses Madison Merrifield and Estephanie Martin took center stage in the gym as their names were announced.
Queen candidates were then announced and include seniors Jessica Ruiz, Skye-Lynn Ferch, Megan Carroll, Shelby Brewer and Gionna Scott.
The excitement continues after the weekend as students will begin to show their spirit by dressing up for different themes each day.
Tuesday marks “block out the Lions day,” in which students can wear sunglasses to class, followed by “smart out the Lions day” when students will dress as nerds.
Thursday is inside out day, so students should expect to turn their clothes inside out and Friday will be a school spirit day where fans will don their red and white Gainesville attire.
Leading up to the big night, on Wednesday, a parade will guide fans downtown and to the baseball field, where a pep rally will be held.
Gerken said, “It’s kind of a turkey shoot,” on the number of floats expected to debut during the route, but that the usual suspects will be on hand, including cheerleaders, dance teams, marching bands and perhaps a local motorcycle group. Those on Homecoming court will likely grace the crowd while riding in pick-up trucks, Gerken said.
The parade will assemble at First Baptist Church on East Broadway around 6 p.m., and starting at 7 participants will make their way through the roughly 30-minute route from Red River to California and Weaver and onto the baseball field.
Once at the baseball field, the pep rally is slated to begin around 8 p.m.
And for the grand finale, Friday the Leopards will take on Fort Worth Castleberry at 7:30 p.m. for the Homecoming football game. The game also marks the official grand opening celebration of the stadium, which has already hosted a handful of matches.
At halftime, the Homecoming court will take to the field and the queen will be announced.
Gerken said there aren’t really any changes to this year’s celebration.
“Pretty much traditional,” he said.
Although he did note that occasionally the pep rally’s location changes. In previous years it’s been on the courthouse steps, but Gerken said that wasn’t an option this year because of renovations. The new football stadium was also a consideration, however Gerken wasn’t sure construction was going to be completed in time for its use.
Those looking to participate in the Homecoming parade still have time to sign up. Gerken can be contacted at 665-5528.
Schools
Related Photos
-
Gainesville High School Homecoming princesses and queen candidates were announced Friday during a pep rally. Pictured (left to right) are senior queen candidates Jessica Ruiz, Shelby Brewer, Skye-Lynn Ferch, Megan Carroll and Gionna Scott, along with junior princess Loreli Rodriguez, sophomore princess Madison Merrifield and freshman princess Estephanie Martin. Lindsay Lorenz
Guest Book
GHS gears up for Homecoming week
- Schools
-
-
It's a weld off
Student welders were recognized and awards were handed out at
Wednesday’s Spring 2012 “Weld Off” ceremony at North Central Texas
College. -
Swing school coming to NCTC
“Deep within my heart lies a melody…” Young musicians who get excited
when they hear the unique sounds that go along with these famous song
lyrics will head for North Central Texas College again this summer for
the third annual Big Texas Swing School. -
Spelling bee winners move on to district elimination round
The Gainesville Independent School District will bring together the top three spelling bee winners from W.E. Chalmers Elementary, Robert E. Lee Intermediate, and Gainesville Middle schools by hosting a district spelling bee at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Gainesville Administration Building.
-
GMS starts Chess Club
There are a variety of new clubs and organizations at Gainesville Middle School to expand the minds of these young students and the GMS Chess Club is doing just that.
-
Local schools challenge state finance system
Era and Valley View independent school districts recently joined the 150 other school districts in the Austin-based Equity Center that have filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas for financial reasons, and at least two other school district boards in Cooke County plan to discuss this matter during their November board meetings.
-
Lee students learn at Leeper Lake
The Gainesville Independent School District Foundation funded an opportunity for 225 fifth-grade students at Robert E. Lee Intermediate School to spend one day at Leeper Lake, which provided each student with an outdoor learning environment to enhance the information taught in the classroom.
-
Preparation key to success, GISD teachers say
Parents often prepare for the first day of school as much as their kids do.
Getting ready for a new school year can be exciting for everyone involved. -
Chalmers ready to start new school year
With the beginning of Gainesville Independent School District’s academic year just a little over a week away, each campus has its own focus for the months ahead and W.E. Chalmers Elementary School is no exception.
-
TEA releases school ratings
The Texas Education Agency’s release of state accountability ratings Friday indicated two Cooke County school districts with an “exemplary” status.
-
GISD adminstration staff revamped
The Gainesville Independent School District not only has a new superintendent, but the administrative staff is undergoing a shake-up.
- More Schools Headlines
-
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
