Activities
Homecoming
When planning a halftime show you need to make sure you have the timing down. Make sure to ask the referees for a 20 minutes halftime so you can get everything done. This is your time to really make a big show! The better your Homecoming show the more tickets you will sell for the game and that success will carry over to the dance.
Get your fine arts department involved as well as dance and cheer to get as many students on the field for the show as possible. You will want a detailed outline of when and where everyone needs to be at each stage of the halftime show. This document shows the end of a show with the queens on stage and the fireworks in the background.
This is an extremely basic list, but it gives you an idea of all the pieces that go into making a successful homecoming event. If you are new make sure you check with long time teachers to find out if there are any traditions you need to incorporate into your homecoming.
One of the most important parts in making a great Homecoming Halftime and Dance year after year is to do a thorough self analysis after the events. Use this guide as a resource in that process. Make sure to include students, teachers, parents and administrators when doing a self evaluation.
This is a brief overview from a school that had “Hollywood” as their theme for Homecoming. You can use this as a template if you are just starting out and need some basic ideas. If your students don’t like the Hollywood idea you can still use it as a reference for similar activities.
When going through the process of nominating and having elections for a Homecoming Court it is important to have all of the steps clearly defined so that the process is transparent. Nothing can ruin an event than several angry parents that they see the results because they believe that their daughter/son should have won.
This is another good overview of many of the important parts of a successful homecoming. Review this with your students and see what parts they like and which ones they might try to improve on. From this template you can create a memorable homecoming for all of your students.
When preparing for elections many schools go through a nomination process for the Homecoming Court. Use this as a simple way to have the students cast their votes. Make sure to get a list of all the students in the school and check them off as they nominate to make sure no one puts in duplicate forms.
Communication is key when working with your Homecoming nominees if you plan on having them participate in spirit activities. Here is a sample memo that can be sent to make sure they understand their responsibilities. Having them participate is a great way to get other students involved in your spirit week activities.
Having information readily available is the key to making your Homecoming a great success. A simple two page flyer can help to generate good word of mouth and keep your student body informed. Make sure to include prices, times, locations, and helpful hints or dress up ideas.
If you happen to use any theme relating to Las Vegas it’s fun to offer the students a “Wedding Chapel” at the dance where they can get “married” for a couple of dollars by a teacher dressed up as Elvis. Use a mini polaroid camera to take a picture of the couple and make the marriage certificate “official.”
