LHS homecoming set to take place in Wonderland

Published 11:29 pm Friday, September 5, 2008

VALDOSTA — Lowndes High School will be asking Alice what all the fuss is about next week.

Homecoming 2008 is titled “LHS is a WONDERLAND” and “Alice in Wonderland” is the inspiration, Mary Ann Hand, student council sponsor said.

Student council president Stephanie Hancock, 17, presented the idea of “Alice in Wonderland” as a theme earlier this semester.

While traveling out of town, Hancock said she overheard someone talking about attending a dance with the same theme. Inspired, Hancock brought the idea back to LHS.

“We figured so many cool things happen here in athletics, academics and the clubs that LHS really is a wonderland,” Hand said.

While the students don’t seem to mind homecoming happening so early in the year, it puts an extra stress on teachers as they try to get the students settled in academically, Hand said.

Student council has planned a mad cap variety of events for each day during homecoming week.

On Monday, Mad as a Hatter Day will inspire students to dress in their craziest, tackiest, wackiest outfit possible.

Tweedle Dee/Tweedle Dum day’s title for Tuesday pretty much explains itself. Students are encouraged to gather as many of their friends as possible and dress alike.

For many students Wednesday will have their worst nightmare or sweetest dream come true. In honor of Alice’s crazy dreams students can dress up as something that puts shivers down their spines or something that prompts them to sleep peacefully.

Thursday will have the halls filled with everyone’s favorite hero or villain for The Queen of Mean meets the Teen Day.

LHS will be bursting with Viking pride on Friday during Spirit Day with students, teachers and administrators decking themselves out in maroon and silver.

Students are encouraged to dress up all five days but must remain within dress code policy.

The parade, beginning at 4 p.m. in the LHS parking lot, will draw all the wonderland themes together as the classes and student organizations march down Norman Drive in the fifth annual homecoming parade.

The parade route will be circular, moving down Norman Drive to the James H. Rainwater Conference Center and then making its way back to the high school, Hand said

Before Hand came to LHS, the school had not had a parade in 18 years, she said.

Coming from Valdosta High School, Hand was shocked at the lack of a parade in the homecoming festivities and began planning the event.

Hand expects to have more than 1,000 people and at least 80 vehicles participating in the parade.

The LHS homecoming parade does not allow outside vendors to participate but Hand does encourage the community to come out and view all the hard work put into the floats.

All floats entered into the parade will be judged and the top three floats will receive cash prizes, she said.

Student council is also busy preparing decorations for the Mad Hatter’s Ball which will happen on Saturday, Sept. 13 in the LHS cafeteria.

Junior Scott Hancock, 16, said it will take the student council a couple of days to put up all the decorations for the dance. While a lot of work, the end result will be worth it, he said.

Hand expects the Mad Hatter’s Ball to sell out this year and the student council are planning to design and erect a giant tree and the Queen of Hearts in the cafeteria to play off the Alice in Wonderland theme.

“The students look at it as throwing a party for 1,350 of their closest friends,” Hand said.

The semi-formal dance will be from eight to 11 p.m. and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Even the chaperones will get into the fun, with some dressing up as characters from the novel.

Students will get pumped up for the game and showcase their school spirit during Friday’s pep rally in the gymnasium.

Homecoming court will be announced during halftime of the football game on Friday night, Hand said.