Fifteen parade entries marched down Third Street in San Juan
Bautista on Friday, kicking off Anzar High School’s first
homecoming.
Homecoming events included a school-wide rally, the downtown
parade, crowning of a king and queen and girls’ and boys’ varsity
basketball games against Gonzales High School. Even though it’s not
an age-old tradition, homecoming is a big deal to many Anzar
students and athletes.
Fifteen parade entries marched down Third Street in San Juan Bautista on Friday, kicking off Anzar High School’s first homecoming.
Homecoming events included a school-wide rally, the downtown parade, crowning of a king and queen and girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball games against Gonzales High School. Even though it’s not an age-old tradition, homecoming is a big deal to many Anzar students and athletes.
“(Homecoming is important) to get more school spirit. It’s exciting to have it for the first time our senior year,” said cheerleader and senior Angie Jones. “It’s important to get more school spirit. Since we’re such a small school, no one has school pride.”
Cheerleading Advisor Susie Swing worked with students who were interested in homecoming events, and started brainstorming and meeting with them to organize the homecoming parade. Associated Student Body President Elsa Vallejo helped put together the parade and thinks the school should have one every year.
“Every other high school has a homecoming. We should try to be semi-normal,” the senior said jokingly.
In its 10-year history, Anzar hasn’t had a homecoming parade. A few years back, the school held a homecoming rally and crowned a king and queen, but it’s never done homecoming like this.
The parade helped bring various student groups together. Organizations that entered the parade included Future Farmers of America, M.E.Ch.A., each of the four classes and some sports teams. Students and teachers rode on trucks and threw candy to the crowd.
“The parade highlights who some of the different students and groups are, regardless of what their affiliation is,” Swing said.
Including a parade in homecoming festivities also allows Anzar to bring its school activities into the community. The parade “creates a sense of tradition,” Swing said.
“Anzar has a creative tradition, that’s not always accepted. This bridges that gap,” she said.
Two awards were given out to parade entries. The student-chosen Most Outrageous Award went to the junior class entry, “Anzar Invades Mars.” Anzar Director Charlene McKowen chose M.E.Ch.A. as the Best All-Around.
In between the girls’ and boys’ games, seniors Matt Wilkinson and Katie McGowan were crowned homecoming king and queen.
Homecoming is extra special for Anzar’s basketball players, according to girls’ basketball player junior Lizz Westwood.
“It means that our sports are being taken more seriously. If they take it more seriously, it will increase school spirit,” Westwood said.
The girls’ team beat Gonzales, 48-27, while the boys lost, 60-36.
Anzar administrators and students said they plan to make homecoming an annual event.
