Portage High School is a very enthusiastic place all year around. There are many events that bring the students of PHS together. However, there is one week where the hallways are buzzing and school spirit is on display by the majority of the student body all week long. It is one of the most exciting weeks of the year. Homecoming Week 2011 will run from Monday, September 12 to Friday September 16.
The slate is filled with a variety of unique events that take place just once a year. The Student Council is in charge of putting it all together. The fun begins on Monday with a Powder Puff football game, where the senior girls take on the juniors each year. Junior and senior boys serve as the cheerleaders for this comical but competitive event. The Powder Puff game has been extremely successful in the past, drawing a large number of fans and raising a lot of money for a variety of organizations. The gates open on Monday night at 6:00 with entry costing just $5.
Tuesday the classes gear up for the Homecoming Parade with float building night. Each class (freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors) will be in charge of putting together their own float. Food will be provided for all participants at the Bus Barn from 4:00 to 8:00. The parade itself will occur on Thursday at 5:30 down Central Avenue.
Hallway decorating will be held after school Thursday prior to the parade. Freshman will decorate the West Building, sophomores will have the art hallways, juniors will fill the brick hallway between the North and South cafeteria with décor and the seniors will, as always, have the commons.
Throughout the week students are encouraged to show their spirit by dressing up for the theme each day. Monday is set to be Mustache Day, Tuesday will be Nerd Day, Harry Potter Day is scheduled for Wednesday, “Born This Way” Day will take place on Thursday and Red & White Day will round out the week on Friday. The idea for “Born This Way” Day came from an episode of the television program Glee where students write their insecurities on a tee-shirt. A count of how many students from each grade level participate will be totaled up to determine the winning class of Spirit Week. .
Homecoming tee-shirts will be sold throughout the week for $15 in the East Bookstore and West Office. The cutest baby contest, where students can drop their pennies in a jar to vote for the senior who was the cutest as a young child, will be going on all week long as well.
Friday the festivities culminate with an afternoon and evening of excitement. Everyone will get pumped up during the Pep Rally right after school in the East Gym. The football game between the Indians and Crown Point Bulldogs will kick off at 7pm. The Homecoming Queen and Mr. Football will be named at halftime. When the fourth quarter concludes the fun does not, as the informal Homecoming Dance starts right after the game in the school. Tickets will be sold at the door.
A group of students involved in the Portage High School Student Council has been working hard to make sure everything will go off without a hitch. President Marko Pekovic, vice president Morgan Jackson, secretary Ashley Bonzani, treasurer Ken Guerra and historian Stefanie Nanney make up the student body officers. Jomari Miranda, Emily Evans, Olivia Forrester, Zak Spurlock and Alex Pavlinac are all chairs who are heading up Homecoming events. Homecoming should make for a great week at PHS.