By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Parade enthusiasts don’t have to wait until the Christmas season to enjoy one of their favorite pastimes.
In fact, they can head to downtown Washington this afternoon and take in Washington High School’s annual homecoming parade, which is scheduled for 4:15 p.m., rain or shine.
The parade, a longtime school tradition, is a highlight of this week’s homecoming celebration. Students have spent the past several afternoons and evenings sequestered in the Shrine Club adjacent to the school campus, making sure their floats are in top-notch condition.
“We started working on this on Tuesday, and we’ve been working about five hours each day,” said WHS senior Kristina McKeel, taking a break from stuffing paper napkins through holes in chicken wire. “We’re still deciding how we’re going to do a plank.”
McKeel said she’s worked on her class float for the past two years, and she finds the task enjoyable.
“It’s fun. I love getting involved,” she said. “You get to be with everybody in your grade. It’s different, you’re out of school, but you still see everyone you hang out with everyday.”
Although the exact theme of each float is kept a closely guarded secret, McKeel did say she and her classmates are using a lot of chicken wire, napkins, paint and tape.
The results will be unveiled today, and each grade level is hoping to catch the eyes of the judges lining the parade route. Bragging rights are on the line, it seems.
John Tate, a freshman at WHS, said his first homecoming celebration at the high school is just a little overwhelming.
“It’s really fun, but it’s surprising how much work there is to do,” he said. “We have about 20 to 25 people here working on our float tonight.”
The centerpiece of the freshmen class’ parade entry is a giant oak tree, a nod to the White Oak Vikings, Washington High School’s homecoming rivals this year. But the tree isn’t a tribute, Tate said; rather, it is being used to make good-natured fun of the other team.
Penny Paul, who is serving as co-advisor of the junior class along with Charles Daniels, said her students have opted to “go green” with their homecoming float this year. They’re reusing as many pieces from previous years’ floats and prom decorations as they can get their hands on.
“Three or four years ago, some of us literally went dumpster diving,” Paul said. “We put some things into storage and pulled them out to use again this year. We just decided to recycle some of the things we already had.”
Not only is that decision good for the environment, it is also a sound financial decision.
“We wanted to be one of the first classes to give money back to the Student Government Association,” Paul said. “They give us money to spend on the float, and what we don’t use we can give back.”
Recycling old decorations is saving the junior class roughly $50, Paul estimated, since it isn’t having to purchase napkins and chicken wire.
Today’s homecoming pep rally, parade, football game and the crowning of the king and queen are the climax of a week-long celebration, according to Russell Holloman, Washington High School’s principal.
“This is Spirit Week. Monday was celebrity day and we had a lot of fictional characters and some real, live people. There was a lot of involvement,” said Holloman, who is marking his third homecoming since becoming principal. “On Tuesday, the theme was ‘60 years from now,’ and we had a lot of the students dressed as senior citizens. It was hilarious. The kids and the teachers really did go all out. Some of the teachers came to school dressed as angels, since they said that’s what they’d be 60 years from now.”
Wednesday was designated Nerd Day and Thursday was Tacky Day, Holloman added. Today is Blue &White Day, with staff and students encouraged to dress in Washington High School colors and show their school pride.
Holloman commended members of the Student Government Association and their advisor, Bill Gore, for their hard work in sponsoring this year’s homecoming festivities.
“They have really done a great job,” Holloman said. “They give each class money for the floats, and they use proceeds from the Powder Puff football game to help fund homecoming.”