Homecoming in Sparta, Michigan

           The ritual of Homecoming in Sparta is different than any other place that I know of. To begin off the celebration, we have each class pick a topic from our general theme which is chosen by student council, and a color. My freshman year the theme was Continents. The Freshman class had Antarctica and baby blue, the Sophomore class had Asia and purple, the Junior class had Africa and red, and the Senior class had North America and black, but the seniors always have black. My Sophomore year the theme was Musicals. The Freshman class had High School Musical and red, the Sophomore class had Grease and grey, the Junior class had Footloose and green, and the Senior class had The Rock of Ages and black. And this year our theme was Decades. each grade picked a different decade to represent. The Freshman class had the 90's and purple. The Sophomore class had the 70's and teal. The Junior class had the 20's and green. And the Senior class had the 80's and black.
          Every day of the week of homecoming is a different dress up day. The Friday before the homecoming game everyone wears their class t-shirt or class color if they didn't order a class t-shirt. Then everyday after that varies every year. Like this year, Monday was dress up from your favorite decade, Tuesday was crazy hair day, Wednesday was pajama day, and Thursday was twin day. And everyday that is a dress up day, the teachers take a count and give out points. The Friday of the
Homecoming football game, everyone decks themselves out in their class colors to get as many points as possible.
           The best part about the Friday of the game we have no academic classes at the high school. We play different games all day to earn points for our grade. But we only play games after we hear the speeches from the elected homecoming court members and vote for who we think should win. Also for a length of time before any of this happens, each class builds a float which gets judged and points given, and also choreograph a mock rock, which is a dance that is performed in front of the whole school for points.
       By this point you might be asking what all of the point are for, they are for the RED APPLE! That is the "trophy" that each grade is competing for. The senior class wins almost every year but it's still a blast to just come together as a school. Then the football game happens. Sparta hasn't won a Homecoming football game in six years... but we totally kicked butt and won this year at a total of 41- 14 against Coopersville. This is when the Homecoming King and Queen are announced. The Red Apple is awarded at this point also.
        On Saturday the dance happens. Everyone dresses all up in formal wear and goes to dinner or hangs out with friends or does whatever, and then we all show up to the school and dance our cares away for three hours. If you showed up to the dance there would be piles of high heels everywhere because most girls show up to the school and kick them off so they are able to dance.
          Homecoming is the best part of the school year in my opinion because it doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, where you are originally from, it doesn't matter. That week, that day, is all about Sparta and representing who we are as a community. Its all about coming together to support your team. Its about being together, being Sparta.