Gilroy
– Homecoming week at Gilroy High School is under way and festive
as usual, but the death of Erin Kinkel has cast a shadow over one
long-standing tradition.
In past years during the homecoming parade and at halftime of
the football game, players, cheerleaders, the homecoming court and
a handful of other students rode sitting down in the beds of
pick-up trucks.
Gilroy – Homecoming week at Gilroy High School is under way and festive as usual, but the death of Erin Kinkel has cast a shadow over one long-standing tradition.
In past years during the homecoming parade and at halftime of the football game, players, cheerleaders, the homecoming court and a handful of other students rode sitting down in the beds of pick-up trucks. This year, the students will ride inside or walk alongside the cars, said the high school’s athletics and activities director Jack Daley. Other ideas include riding in convertibles or in mini-vans with the doors open.
Kinkel, who would have been a junior and a cheerleader at the high school this year, was killed three months ago after being thrown from the bed of a pick-up truck in which she was riding with three friends.
“I think obviously it’s a safety concern, and in past years we kind of looked the other way and crossed our fingers that nothing would happen,” Daley said. “But by virtue of what happened with Erin, it was time to make that decision.”
Laura Peña and Traci Young, both 17-year-old seniors, said they think the new provision is a positive change.
“It’s appropriate because (Kinkel’s death) hit so close to home,” Young said. “It’s definitely a good thing that they’re doing that this year.”
The car rides are part of the annual parade that kicks off at 3pm Friday preceded by a pep rally. After the parade, the junior varsity and varsity football teams will play the Salinas High School Cowboys at 5pm and 7:30pm, respectively. The homecoming dance will take place from 10pm to midnight.
This year’s homecoming theme, State Your Pride, means students will construct their class floats based on a state assigned to them. Using crepe paper, chicken wire, teamwork and creativity, seniors will pay homage to California, juniors to Hawaii, sophomores to New York and freshmen to Florida.
Students will work on their floats after school until 8:30pm every day this week, with a final push until 10:30pm Thursday to perfect the details. The floats will be unveiled for the parade, and float winners will be announced at halftime along with this year’s homecoming king and queen.
The rest of the court already has been announced. To select the king and queen, the senior class picked two princes and princesses, and the entire student body will vote on the final choice.
For many students, homecoming festivities are a welcome interruption to everyday schedules. And schedules aren’t the only thing homecoming week shakes up: This won’t be a normal week for GHS fashion, either.
Each day has a different theme, and students are encouraged to dress up accordingly. Monday was Urkel Day in honor of Steve Urkel, the prototypical nerd from the TV show “Family Matters.” Students donned suspenders, hiked-up jeans, oversized glasses and other wardrobe items that are a far cry from most high schoolers’ usual getup.
Today, as a tribute to all the construction work taking place on campus, students will dress up like construction workers. On Wednesday, students will dig deep into their parents’ closets to find jelly bracelets, leg warmers, parachute pants and other blasts from the past for ’80s Day.
Thursday is deemed Rock Star/Bling-Bling Day, meaning students will imitate in dress various musicians and bands. The week is capped by Blue and Gold Day, with students expressing their school spirit in blue and gold attire.
The last day, Peña said, usually garners the most participation.
“People get pretty into it,” she said. “I think a lot of people dress up because it’s fun, more than anything.”
High school senior Stephanie Radtke, dressed in suspenders, high-top sneakers and taped glasses on Monday, said she’ll continue to dress up through the week to demonstrate her school spirit.
Plus, she said, the class whose students dress up the most earns points. The class with the most points at the end of the week will be named the most school-spirited.
The reward?
“Pride,” Radtke said.
Additionally, the two students who dress up the most through the week will be named Mr. and Mrs. Mustang. Students who want to try for the titles construct decorative jars in which they solicit donations from fellow students. At the end of the week, the money is donated to the school.
