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Homecoming at Warsaw Community High School will be different this year because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
But the difference will be one that members of the WCHS student council see as positive.
"This year, instead of dividing the classes up, we're coming together more as a school," said Warsaw Student Council President Kiel Beehler. "Instead of four separate floats, we're doing one giant float with everyone working on that to build school unity ... ."
Beehler said, "During the summer, we had our retreat and we planned out the normal homecoming with the four classes each doing their own separate thing. ... Due to the tragedies of a couple of weeks ago, it just kind of turned all of our heads and we're all thinking that school spirit isn't the most important thing, it's more of a country, community spirit at this point in time and we should get involved."
The decision to change homecoming with only a few weeks to go wasn't easy.
There was a lot of discussion, said Beehler and senior class president Emily Duncan. "The student council was divided as to what we should do. We all wanted to show the community we care about it, because we do," Duncan said.
In the wake of the tragedy, something the country really hasn't faced before, the students had no guidance to help them decide what to do, said student council adviser and WCHS teacher Chris Foster.
Homecoming at WCHS began Sept. 22 and runs through Friday.
The schedule of events includes: Float building at the fairgrounds Sunday and Wednesday; spirit days begin Monday with crazy hat day. Tuesday is red, white and blue day with Wednesday being class color day. Clash day is Thursday and orange and black day is Friday.
The American Red Cross blood drive will be at the school Friday for students and staff.
"Activity night (Wednesday) is going to be a lot different," said Duncan. "We're inviting youth groups and the elementary schools and just trying to unite the community and high school, bring them together.
"We're going to do a big cookout at the beginning. We're going to continue to raise money for the victims (of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks). ... The money we raise from the cookout, that's also going to go to the relief fund."
Beehler said there's no charge for the food at the cookout but they are asking for donations to the relief fund. The cookout is being sponsored by the student council.
There also will be speakers from the Warsaw mayor's office, along with representatives from the local police and fire departments, and patriotic music just before the games begin.
Following the cookout, there will be games including a frozen T-shirt race, snack eating contest, tug-of-war, balloon toss, sack race, mummy wrap, sock toss, flying disc throw, bat race, duck walk race, feed sack relay and a find-the-marble-in-the-oatmeal contest.
The annual homecoming parade will be Friday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. with grand marshal Bob "Litch" Lichtenwalter.
The parade will start at the Kosciusko County fairgrounds and will travel north on Bronson Street then west on Center Street, south on Lake Street, east on Market Street and then south on Bronson Street back to the fairgrounds.
The homecoming football game begins at 7 p.m. with coronation of the king and queen at half-time.
Homecoming festivities end with a dance following the game at Lakeview Middle School until 11:30 p.m.
Beehler concluded by saying, "I just want (the public) to know it's for a good cause. ... It's all about having a good time and bringing the community together and uniting not only the students and the school but also getting the community back involved with the school.
"... I think this is going to be one of the school's finest hours. The students are going to get involved and not only be proud to be a part of Warsaw Community High School but also be proud to be a part of the community and being an American."
Foster said of the students' efforts, "They are kind of taking a risk here because it is new. It's like all the things that students have been taught - standing up for your principles, taking risks and trying new things - but it's scary and it's something we're not sure about how it's going to turn out. As an adviser, I'm real proud of them for the stand they are taking."
