With Homecoming right around the corner, there is mounting excitement and anticipation for the fun activities coming up among students. Traditionally, the week leading up to Homecoming is Spirit Week with lots of fun activities before the Homecoming dance and football game on the weekend.
Abby Steen, a Manitou Springs native attended K-12 in the school district and has been a member of the larger Manitou community for longer, teaching for 6 years in the school district. Steen feels that even though MSHS isn’t a huge school, there are still some benefits to going to school here. “I think as a smaller school, we are able to have more participation from all kinds of different people,” Steen said. “We have Astronomy Club and Environmental Club and GSTA Club, and they’re all able to participate in the Homecoming parade,”
Homecoming is a time for alumni, current students and younger students to come together and celebrate their school spirit. Although in the past it wasn’t always this hyped up and community oriented. “I think that kids from all kinds of different walks of life are more invested and into celebrating that whole week than when I was here,” Steen said, “it wasn’t quite the same.”
With the change in participation over the years, there also comes a change in traditions. Brandon DeMatto, the school’s athletic director and long time member of the MSHS community, expressed sadness due to these changes “I think it’s been kind of sad to see the bonfire which used to be a thing here for several years, not offered anymore, due to fire bans and that’s been kind of a tough to see go by the wayside, because I think kids used to get super excited about that,” he said.
Along with the change of that tradition, some students have been questioning the necessity of the powder puff game. The tradition once held special meaning as it gave girls the opportunity to play football and boys an opportunity to be cheerleaders. Now both can do either freely. “We don’t have a girls flag football team here, but there’s still an opportunity they can play for a school that’s nearby that has it, so without us having a team I still think there’s relevance to it, And I think, it’s just one of those traditions that that we hang on to a little bit and improve year after year,” DeMatto said.
Braden Czarnecki, a current sophomore at MSHS enjoys the week of activities, “I think the festivities throughout the week and the opportunity to hang out with friends is cool.” Czarnecki said.
Some students and teachers feel these traditions make MSHS stand out because some other schools don’t do them.“I think it makes the whole experience more fun leading up to the Friday Night Lights and the dance on Saturday,” Czarnecki said.
