Huntington High School’s
Homecoming Day on Saturday
Alumni spanning at least seven decades are expected to participate in Huntington High School’s Homecoming Day festivities on Saturday. It will culminate a week full of activities for students.
The day will feature a late morning parade through the heart of the village followed by an afternoon football game against rugged Half Hollow Hills West. Halftime activities will include performances by the Blue Devil marching band and the Highsteppers, the high school’s competitive dance team along with the crowning of the Homecoming Day king and queen and an announcement of the winning class float entry.
Homecoming is a production of the high school student government, which is led by faculty advisors Fred Bisogno and Anthony Troffa along with individual class advisors.
“This homecoming is going to be incredible,” Mr. Troffa said. “The kids worked all summer to gear up for the float competition. They are very excited about the Thursday night dance and of course the Saturday football game.”
A decades-long tradition will continue as the 11:30 a.m. parade will include four colorful class floats, the Blue Devil marching band, cars ferrying members of the Royal Court, trucks and tractors filled with hundreds of students and untold numbers of marchers, including Principal Brenden Cusack, Superintendent James W. Polansky, members of the Huntington School Board and the district’s administrative corps, individual school PTAs and teachers from across the district. The class floats will later be put on display adjacent to the football field following the parade.
“The week leading up to and culminating with Homecoming is one of the most enjoyable of the school year,” Mr. Polansky said. “The spirit and enthusiasm throughout the district will be contagious, particularly at Huntington High School. We are, once again, anticipating tremendous participation in Saturday’s parade from students and staff connected to all district schools, as well as from school community members. The parade will also feature an outstanding float produced by each of the high school classes. We invite everyone to stay for an exciting Blue Devil football contest, with halftime performances from the Blue Devil marching band and Huntington Highsteppers. It is sure to be a great day for all.”
Spirit Week at the high school has included “class color day” on Monday and “twin day” on Tuesday. District schools were closed on Wednesday in observance of Yom Kippur. Thursday will be “pajama day” and Friday is set to be “blue and white day.”
“Homecoming is a great time for our students and their families to take part in Blue Devil pride,” Mr. Cusack said. “The dance, pep rally and float night, as well as the parade and the football game are all great traditions, which are part of what high school is all about. It’s a fun week of spirit and I’m looking forward to all of it.”
Shuttle Bus Available for Parade Participants
Those participating in Saturday’s parade can utilize a shuttle bus, which will running back and forth between Huntington High School and the Gerard Street parking lot which is the step-off point. The bus will run from 10:30 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m. to ferry parade participants to and from their cars.
“This year’s student government officers have been tirelessly working to make the whole week’s events spectacular,” Mr. Bisogno said. “Their goal is total involvement from their fellow classmates on float night and in the other events as well.”
About 500 students are expected in the high school gym for Thursday night’s dance. The Friday afternoon pep rally in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium is being eagerly anticipated. Coaches will introduce their teams, the Highsteppers and Ready Step dance teams will perform and the Blue Devil marching band will entertain students and faculty members.
Anna Brosoff, Magenta Lopez and Holly LoTurco have choreographed a dance that they and their fellow Highsteppers “have been practicing since last summer so that we are really to perform in the pep rally and at the football game,” Ms. LoTurco said. “With 19 people, we have a larger team than usual this year, so I’m excited for the school to see what we have been preparing.”
Homecoming Theme is Dr. Seuss
Friday night will be busy as students spend time putting the finishing touches on their class floats from 6-11 p.m. Following their afternoon practice, varsity and JV football players will attend a traditional team dinner organized by parents in the school cafeteria.
The theme of this year’s Homecoming Day parade and festivities is Dr. Seuss. The seniors will feature the Cat in the Hat while the juniors will create a float incorporating the Lorax. The sophomore class is developing a float consistent with Horton Hears a Who. The freshmen float will feature the Grinch.
“Our class as a whole, in addition to the student government officers, have been coming together over the summer to prepare and are very excited to see our finished float in the parade,” said Ms. LoTurco, who is president of the Class of 2016. “All of the grades seem very motivated this year and I think it’ll make for some amazing floats.”
No tickets are required for Saturday’s football game. Admission is free. The Huntington Booster Club will be on hand selling food, refreshments and an assortment of Blue Devil apparel items throughout the game.
Last year’s Homecoming Day game and halftime entertainment drew an estimated crowd of more than 1,500. Seniors Joe Saginaw and Sydney English were crowned Homecoming king and queen, respectively. If there is good weather, a similar throng is expected this weekend at Huntington High School.
Organizers are hoping for all-inclusive parade participation and that students and families from all district schools stay to watch the football game. Following the contest, alumni are expected to head to local restaurants and pubs throughout the village for individual and group reunions and get-togethers.
Student Government Officers are Busy
Student government officers are busy this week. “Although homecoming is early again, the student government officers have been ready for the challenge by preparing since June of last year,” Mr. Troffa said. “It always comes together and Mr. Bisogno and I know that our students are completely reliable.”
The school-wide GO is by Alexandra Berwick (president), Jeanne Kopstein (vice president), Dylan Schedler (treasurer), Vincent Fredericks (corresponding secretary), Katie Reilly (recording secretary) and Brianna McDonald (historian).
The Class of 2016 is led by seniors Holly LoTurco (president), Daniel Mollitor (vice president), Meghan Plant (treasurer), Nina Cartwright (corresponding secretary), Kelly Palladino (recording secretary) and Anna Brosoff (historian).
The Class of 2017 is led by juniors Sam Prinzi (president), Kelsey Miller (vice president), Abby Bellistri (treasurer), Allyson Arleo (corresponding secretary), Theresa Moreno (recording secretary) and Emma Pipolo (historian) and administrative assistants Kayla Ryan, Jacob Fuller, Keegan Dunne, Cody Bograd and Magenta Lopez.
The Class of 2018 is led by sophomores Lindsay Saginaw (president), Levi Leach (vice president), Katie Seccafico (treasurer), Max Robins (corresponding secretary), Rachel Moss (recording secretary), Charlotte Brosoff (historian) and Joel Alfaro (administrative assistant).
The incoming Class of 2019 is led by freshmen Christiana DeLuca (president), Katie Stock (vice president), Kaitlyn Sage (treasurer), Katie Burton (corresponding secretary), Isabella Cahill (recording secretary) and Teddy Holly (historian).
With good weather expected for Saturday’s festivities, everything seems to be in place for another memorable day in Huntington.