By Brandie Gay
Van-Far High School recently celebrated its homecoming with a series of exciting events that brought the community and students together. The theme for this year’s homecoming was “Board Games,” and students, and staff members participated in a variety of activities that highlighted the creativity and enthusiasm of the Van-Far family.
The homecoming festivities kicked off with a week of themed dress-up days. Each day had a unique theme that encouraged students to showcase their creativity and school spirit. The themes included—on Tuesday, “Dress like your grade,” where seniors dressed like senior citizens, juniors dressed like teenagers, sophomores dressed like toddlers, and freshmen dressed like babies. On Wednesday it was dress in camo, Thursday was “Opposite Day” where students dressed like teachers and teachers dressed like students, and “Class Colors,” rounded out the week with each grade level sporting a different color: freshmen in gray, sophomores in gold, juniors in white, and seniors in black. The hallways of Van-Far High School were filled with laughter and colorful outfits, setting the tone for an unforgettable week.
On the evening of Sept. 25, the streets of Vandalia were lined with excited spectators as the homecoming parade made its way through town. Board game floats were decorated by each class and homecoming candidates riding through the parade in their convertibles and trucks.
Following the parade, the annual powder puff game took place under the lights of the Van-Far football field. The game featured senior/sophomore and junior/freshmen girls competing in a friendly but fiercely contested flag football match. The stands were packed with cheering fans as the girls showcased their athleticism and teamwork. The powder puff game is always a highlight of homecoming week, and this year was no exception. The senior/sophomore girls were victorious with the score 26 – 20.
The festivities continued with the mini-Olympics, an event that brought students together for a series of fun and competitive games. Events included relay races, tug-of-war, and obstacle courses, with students from all grade levels participating. The mini-Olympics showed school spirit, as students cheered each other on, and celebrated their collective achievements.
Friday night the stands were full, and the crowd was excited to see who would be crowned Homecoming Queen and King. The Homecoming court was, freshmen Brianna Stanich, and Corbin Roed, sophomores, Mylee Keller and Garrett Hopke, juniors, Elaina Brogden, and Landon Flowers and senior candidates were Reeve Woodall, Gabe Frie, Rebecca Motley, Cameron Huff, Ava Young, Lane Varner, Erin Childs, and Reece Culwell. The Homecoming Queen Erin Childs and Homecoming King Carson Huff were crowned. Macie Bybee was names spirit queen as well.
Van-Far High School’s homecoming week was a resounding success, filled with memorable moments and a strong sense of community. The dress-up days, parade, powder puff game, and mini-Olympics all contributed to a week of fun, laughter, and school pride. As the festivities ended, students and staff alike reflected on the importance of coming together to celebrate their school and community. Homecoming at Van-Far High School is more than just a series of events; it’s a celebration of the spirit and unity that make the Van-Far family so special.