From snazzy suits to creative costumes, Thomas County Central High School once again upheld an annual tradition.
TCCHS Homecoming Week 2017 was held Sept. 18-22. The week is five days themed around a specific selection of topics that culminates with the homecoming football game and dance and the crowning of that year’s homecoming queen. However, the event is about more than style.
“Homecoming is a time when we celebrate our school and welcome back former students,” TCCHS Principal Trista Jones said. “Many times groups will schedule class reunions during homecoming so that they get a chance to see everyone again.”
Jones further explains that homecoming is “a time to build relationships” and “to have fun together.”
“Homecoming is a fun time when we show our school spirit and make connections with all Yellow Jackets – young and not so young,” she said. “We hope that students join together and demonstrate love of their school. We try to have dress up days, a homecoming pageant, and other festivities so that everyone has an opportunity to participate.”
Many students dressed in diverse outfits pertaining to that day’s theme. This year’s chosen themes were Disney character/superhero, throwback/decades/vintage, college, dress for success, and blue and gold (in addition with “Caps For CURE”).
Sophomore Brittney Jones, 16, loves dressing up and said homecoming week is a chance for her “to express my individuality” through various style choices.
“I chose the costumes I wore because I'm a crazy person, and when I have the opportunity to express that, I will,” she said. “My favorite costume I wore was the 1960s biker girl, although Tinker Bell came in a close second.”
Senior William Anderson, 17, also participated with a unique costume for the dress for success theme: Ronald McDonald because Anderson said he “is one of, if not the most successful clowns in pop culture….”
Anderson believes schools should hold events like homecoming “because it's a week for students to have fun and help express themselves, but doesn't get in the way of learning.”
The annual TCCHS Homecoming Pageant was held Thursday, Sept. 21. The TCCHS Homecoming Court members were introduced to the school populace and participated in a special performance. Each underclassman grade had two members.
Freshman representatives were Ashlynn Hayes and Imani Horne; sophomore nominees were Sha’Terricka Coleman and Kendajah Cummings; and, junior representatives were Adrienne Carson and Taylor Hester.
The senior class had 10 nominees: Ansley Alligood, Savannah Barrett, Kenlie Harvey, Hayley Hoffs, Destiny Ivey, Ilyria Johns, Demetria Johnson, Jakiyra Slater, Georgia Smith, and Jada Sparrow.
Friday, Sept. 22, the homecoming football game pitted the TCCHS Yellow Jackets against Lee County. Though the team didn’t pull out a win, during halftime Savannah Barrett was declared the 2017 TCCHS Homecoming Queen.
Barrett has been voted to the court by her peers all four years of high school.
“This year was particularly special to me because I got to share this experience with some of my best friends and some of the finest ladies at Central,” Barrett said. “Winning homecoming queen came as a shock to me because I had any of the other girls picked to win! They would've been the perfect representation of what Central is all about.”
Election to the annual homecoming court seems to be a Barrett family tradition. Her mother and her sister Jordan both were crowned homecoming queen, her sister Avery won “Miss Yellow Jacket,” and her younger sister Taylor was voted onto a previous court.
“Winning has become something special in my family,” Barrett said. “Guess you could say it runs in the family. It's an awesome feeling knowing that your school wants you to represent them. Just being on the homecoming court, let alone winning…will be an experience that I cherish forever! I am proud to be a Yellow Jacket!”
A homecoming dance was held immediately following the game.
“We hope that these events create lasting memories for everyone involved,” Trista Jones said.