DHS restoring tradition in Homecoming celebration

back row (left to right): Sierra Daniels (10th grade maid), Asia Chancelor (10th grade maid), Courtney Stewart (11th grade maid),Calaja Bryant (9th grade maid), Mary Frances Webb (11th grade maid), Anna Caroline Logan (9th grade maid)
front row: Senior maids: Regianna Wiggins, Antwaniqua Alston, Sommer Horshok

What’s old is new again next week as Demopolis High School holds its annual Homecoming celebration with the theme Rockin’ Through the Decades.

As part of the festivities, DHS will renew a former tradition in which royalty is revealed at halftime of the Homecoming game with the crowning of the queen.

“We have been trying to accomplish this for a few years. With the theme this year, it seemed a perfect time to go back in time to the original tradition of crowning the queen at halftime,” Rebecca Pipkins, faculty sponsor, said. “It will be so much more special announcing the queen at halftime because more of the girls’ families will be there, along with the home crowd cheering them on. The suspense builds until the “crowning moment” at the actual Homecoming game. The girls are also dressed in formal attire for this event; previously, the girls were in pantsuits or dresses at the pep rally when the queen was crowned.”

While the Homecoming schedule does not feature any new activities or events, Pipkins indicated the parade has picked up steam as more clubs and student organizations are involved in the pageantry.

“Many clubs have rejoined the parade this year,” Pipkins said. “Almost every club on campus is participating in the parade.”

The parade will travel down Walnut Street, go past the Old School to West Capitol Street before turning left by the Post Office and ultimately heading back up North Main Street to the Canebrake school.

The parade is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. with the judging of the best floats taking place at 9 a.m. Friday at the National Guard Armory. Clubs will decorate their floats utilizing themes from various decades of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Homecoming festivities will kickoff Monday when students have their first dress-up day. Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by participating in the various dress-up themes.

Monday is Decade Day. Tuesday is Grandparents Day. Wednesday is Neon Day. Thursday is Nerd Day. Friday is a traditional school spirit day in which students are encouraged to wear their Homecoming T-shirts or another blue garment to show their Demopolis pride.

“We want students and community members to use this time to celebrate all our school has accomplished. We are showing school spirit at each of the activities,” Pipkins said. “I want people to be proud of this alma mater and remember all the wonderful times throughout the decades past for which Demopolis High School provided. I want this community to be excited with the faculty, staff and students of Demopolis High School. Together, we can certainly make this an occasion to remember for future decades.”

The week-long celebration concludes Friday night when Demopolis hosts Sumter-Central at Tiger Stadium at 7 p.m.