Remembering Our Roots
Waverly High School’s student council had a successful homecoming dance last Friday, Sept. 25 at WHS after long weeks of preparation and hard work.
WHS Student Council members wanted to make this homecoming dance very unique and different from those in the past years. This year was only the second year students had the option of buying a homecoming t-shirt and also the first year that the food choices have changed.
“We’re having Runzas and pizza this year because we’re wanting to use more community stuff,” Student Council member Aelyn Thompson said.
StuCo members worked hard and spent a lot of time transforming the gym with decorations that connected with the theme chosen for the homecoming dance: “Remember Your Roots.”
“We’re utilizing a lot of burlap, wood and lights, making it really cute and rustic. We just wish the gym wasn’t so ’gym-y’, but it’ll look really cute when it’s dark,” Thompson said.
With all the changes made to make this year’s dance unique, there was some confusion with the chosen theme.
“I don’t know what to think about this year’s theme because I don’t quite understand it. I mean, yes, we can remember our roots, but what does that have to do with our homecoming dance? I mean, are we trees? Are we flowers? I don’t know,” senior Seth Janssen said.
Janssen wasn’t the only one that didn’t quite understand the theme. Freshman Noah Thede was also uncertain about the theme.
“It’s kind of confusing because it doesn’t really tell you what to wear and what it is. Also, most kids are just gonna be wearing the game theme, camo. So, there’s no point in really having a theme,” Thede said.
Despite their confusion, both Thede and Janssen anxiously awaited their first and last homecoming dance as high schoolers, respectively.
“I think it might be a little different this year, just because of the fact that I’m a senior. I think that because seniors have just a little bit more leeway than everyone else, so we can kind of do what we want,” Janssen said. “I’m looking forward to the sensual, loving dancing that all of us share at some point in our lives. Who knows, I may or may not get that feeling this year, but I’ll be looking for it.”
While Janssen was excited for the freedom and the dancing, Thede was awaiting something different: a whole new experience.
“I’m excited to hang out with my friends in an environment that I haven’t been in yet,” Thede said.
But before homecoming came the homecoming proposals. Sophomore Kylie Janssen was very content when getting asked to homecoming by senior Carson Hoover, who was nominated for homecoming king.
“I had a volleyball game that night at Nebraska City, so I was driving home at around 9:30. When I pulled into the driveway, he was standing there with flowers and a tiara on while holding a poster that said, ‘You may not be part of the royalty, but will you be my homecoming queen?’” Kylie Janssen said.
All in all, the homecoming dance was exactly what StuCo wanted it to be like, and maybe even better. Students seemed to have high expectations for the dance and those expectations were exceeded.
