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Lake Zurich students gear up for homecoming
Lake Zurich High School students Sahnnon O'Hara (left to right), Jensen Anderson and Monika Monko work on a painting of the Mad Hatter Sunday to be hung in a school hallway for homecoming. | Michelle LaVigne ~ Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 5, 2012 10:44AM
LAKE ZURICH — Lake Zurich High School students were busy this week preparing for the homecoming games and dance this weekend.
“The kids were here (last) weekend decorating the halls,” said Ryan Rubenstein, the high school’s assistant principal for student activities, almost a full week before the official homecoming festivities kick off.
Rubenstein explained that homecoming is much more than just the dance and the football game. The girl’s football team, the Powder Puffs, were scheduled to take the field Wednesday night.
“They’ve been practicing all week for that,” said Rubenstein, adding that the band as well as other school groups have been practicing for Friday’s assembly, when the king and queen will be announced.
“There’s probably at least 1,000 kids that do activities over the week,” said Rubenstein.
The theme for this year’s homecoming is Disney, with many of the decorations in the hallway reflecting Disney movies and characters. The tag line to the theme is “When You Wish Upon a Bear,” in honor of the school mascot.
Also, Rubenstein explained, each day of the week had a theme. Monday, he said, was lazy, late start day.
“So some kids wore their pajamas,” he said.
On Tuesday, students dressed in class colors, with seniors wearing pink, juniors in green, sophomores clad in red and freshmen wearing yellow. On Friday, Rubenstein added, students are encouraged to wear the school’s blue and white spirit ware. Prizes are given out for the best dressed. Alumni from the classes of 1982 and 1987 will also be at the school this weekend, Rubenstein said.
Rubenstein said in addition to the game and dance, additional school spirit contests will take place all week in the cafeteria during lunch.
“There’s plenty going on this week,” he said.
While the Friday assembly is set to feature the school band and several other groups, Rubenstein said the school is not hosting its Thursday night homecoming show this year.
“It (was) an opportunity for some of the clubs and groups to perform in front of their parents,” said Rubenstein. “But we decided we’re going to cancel it and revamp it.”
Some of the groups that typically performed at the show will instead be performing during Friday’s assembly, Rubenstein said.
“We’re trying to revamp the homecoming show to make it more of a community event and less of a school-wide event,” Rubenstein said.
The homecoming dance, which is run by the senior class, is scheduled for Saturday evening.
“The set up for that will be on Friday night,” Rubenstein said.
On the football field, the Lake Zurich Bears are hosting the Libertyville Wildcats on Friday night.
