Dress-up days, giveaways and fun games help to get Red Devils in the school spirit
Trinity Flores applies eye black to Hinsdale Central classmate Emma Murphy on Monday before the annual powderpuff flag football game as part of the school's homecoming week festivities. The game always serves as an opportunity for both athleticism and fun, with Morgan Wyent celebrating a touchdown with her teammates. Homecoming activities continue through the next several days with the varsity girls flag football and boys football games on Friday and the dance on Saturday. (Jim Slonoff photos)
Lights. Camera. Action!
Hinsdale Central has gone Hollywood for Homecoming 2024, looking to Tinseltown to theme this year's weeklong series of festivities leading up to Friday night's football game and Saturday night's dance.
On Monday, student organizers from the school's Varsity Club board talked about the fun ways they planned to stir the spirit of their fellow Red Devils, starting with an Adam Sandler Day to kick things off. Sophomore Carolyn Kentra said the idea was to dress up as a favorite character from the actor's films.
"I think it was one of the easier themes to go with, just wearing baggy clothes," Kentra said with a smile.
Senior Mel Lim, who joined Varsity Club as a sophomore, said the idea is get their peers involved.
"We try to make it so there's a range of participation - you can pick stuff from your closet or go crazy and wear" head-to-toe theme clothing, she related.
The winning classroom of a Monday movie trivia contest earned a box of doughnuts, and students searched for their name on stars scattered around the school.
On Tuesday students could choose beachwear or biker gear. The unseasonably warm weather seemed to give beachwear an edge. But temporary arm band tattoos available during lunch could transform anyone into an easy rider.
Wednesday was Wear Pink day in the tradition of "Mean Girls," a with club members passing out pink candy and the Pickleball Club staging a tournament in th field house.
Special education teacher Maria Cotter, who co-sponsors the club with colleague Janelle Hoeksema, said they try not to get to complicated with the motif.
"I feel like a lot the themes that the kids came up with were to be as accessible to everyone as possible without having to buy clothes," Cotter said.
"It's always better when people actually participate," Kentra added.
In the spring, those applying to be club officers for the upcoming year must submit their proposals for a homecoming theme, complete with spirit days and other activities.
"They get to decide from all the presentations where they think the best turnout would be and vote among themselves," Cotter said. "The kids actually are part of the decision making."
Today is Country Western day (think Woody & Jessie from "Toy Story") and students all get a red bandana to accessorize their outfits. The student council put together a bingo game to be played during first period classes.
At the Homecoming pep rally on Friday, the court will be announced. The girls flag football team will make its homecoming debut with a game on Dickinson Field at 6 p.m. followed by the varsity football game at 7:30 p.m.
The dance will be held Saturday night, when the pair from the Homecoming Court that garnered the most student votes will be announced. Cotter said a mini-golf course will be set up in another room for those seeking alternative amusement.
"We have trying our best to have more and more activities that are not just dance-based for students so they can hang out with friends and know they're in a safe space," she said.
Kentra, doing double duty as a Central cheerleader, said she loves the tradition as a second generation Devil following in her dad's footsteps.
"For me it means continuing the Red Devils spirit," said Kentra. "I think it keeps old traditions alive."
Lim said she's wants to soak in her final homecoming season.
"I'm trying to go hard on spirit days, and meet some younger students and more of my classmates," she said. "This is the time to do it."
