Homecoming season is just around the corner, and many students are excited for it to come. Homecoming is a full week celebration at Norwin High where students and clubs are extra busy raising that Norwin Hoco spirit! 

Homecoming Week kicks off on Monday, Oct. 16 with Spirit Week. The themes of the week include: Class Color Monday, Tropical Tuesday, Wednesday wear pink, Flannel Thursday, and Blue & Gold Norwin Friday. 

The last day of Spirit Week will be an extra activity-filled day for the students of Norwin. On Friday, Oct. 20 students will attend a pep-rally during school hours. The rally will feature students from various clubs and sports’ teams with  a 2-hour early dismissal to follow. 

Later that same evening, the Junior Class Office hosts the 9th Annual Homecoming Carnival that will take place outside the athletic gyms with various tents, booths, food trucks, and dunk tank.

“The class officers [juniors] have been working hard since July and are excited to offer this fun-filled event to celebrate the Homecoming kickoff with our entire Norwin Community,” said Mrs. Danae Brentzel, junior class office adviser.

After the Carnival, the annual Homecoming football game will occur. The Norwin community will pack the stadium to watch the Knights play Gateway with kick-off at 7 pm and a pink out theme for Castle Crew.

At halftime, the crowd will remain in their seats for the crowning of the 2023 Homecoming King and Queen. Norwin seniors voted in early October to nominate the king and queen candidates, followed by a final round to elect the new king and queen. Voting for the candidates, as well as the underclassman representatives of the Homecoming Court, began on Sept. 25 and concluded on Monday Oct. 2. Homecoming Queen senior candidates are the following in random order:  Aniyah McKnight, Sydney Reiter, and Jenna Williams. Homecoming King candidates are the following: Luke Klamut, David Shepherd, and Alex Ward. Representing the underclassmen in the Homecoming Court are freshmen Ava Bobby and Gemma Moffatt; sophomores Katie Rabo and Shae Sida; and juniors Adison Federovich and Maura Henaghan. All candidates and representatives will be honored during halftime.

Following the game and crowning of the king and queen, on Saturday Oct. 21, the Homecoming Parade will take place at 10:30 am in downtown Irwin. Members of the Norwin community will gather around to watch the floats of students go by as the clubs and teams throw out candy and are recognized by the community. Some of the participants of the parade include the class officers, the Homecoming King and Queen, and multiple sports’ teams and clubs at Norwin. 

The Homecoming Dance will occur at the very end of Homecoming week. The set theme and date for the dance this year will be Homecoming in Hollywood on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 7 pm to 10 pm.  First year Student Council advisers Mrs. Angela Hufnagel and Mrs. Marissa Pecora, as well as Student Council President Ameer Elatrache, assure that this year’s Homecoming will be a ‘knight to remember’ for all students attending.

For anyone planning on coming to the dance, especially first time attendees, it is important to be aware of the rules and regulations regarding dance attendance. Another essential detail to know is where to purchase tickets!

Tickets are available by clicking HERE or by clicking on the events tab in the Hometown Fan app. Ticket sales will go from Oct. 2 to Oct. 13 and will cost $25 per ticket. 

“I am hoping the students look forward to the theme,” said Hufnagel. “I think that is going to be fun. We will hopefully be connecting with the newspaper as well as the video crew.  Really for me the best and most exciting part is going to be the theme. I think it’s such an exciting theme, but for the students I think they always look forward to the whole dress up every year as well as the dancing.” 

It has been confirmed by STUCO adviser, Mrs. Hufnagel and STUCO president, Ameer Elatrache  that the dance will include many new decorations to bring the Homecoming in Hollywood theme to life. The planning and organization cannot only be done by alone a few people, but the entirety of the student council. With new advisers as well as new students in the club, Student Council has been, and continues, to work as a collective effort in order to create the best Homecoming experience possible for Norwin Students. Elatrache explains the dedication it takes from him and all Students Council members to organize homecoming each year. 

“We are still working with the Student Council to pick out different decorations and come up with new ideas to make those decorations look as nice as possible. It will definitely require the help of the entire council,” said Elatrache. 

Fellow English teacher Ms. Pecora has been at the center of the Homecoming hustle and bustle. She suggests how planning Homecoming has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

“We are having some fun additions that will be surprises,” said Pecora. “Mrs. Hufnagel and I are working with those new additions. We just hope to promote a positive environment and create some excitement for the dance. ” Although planning and organizing the event takes major time and effort, Pecora claims that she and Hufnagel plan to be advisors for the long haul. 

With all of the determined hustle and diligent planning of Norwin High School Student Council and its advisers, Norwin students are guaranteed a thrilling and entertaining Homecoming event. Homecoming Week gives students a preview of the fun that is to come at the Parade and Dance on Saturday Oct 21, when Norwin High School will enjoy a ‘Knight to remember’ at Homecoming in Hollywood!