Wilsonville’s annual homecoming dance is one of our biggest events of the year, hosting hundreds of students in our auxiliary gym. Featuring a variety of decorations, a DJ, and party lights each year, it requires intricate planning and collaboration between Wilsonville’s staff and or Leadership classes.

While being the spotlight of the weekend, the dance itself is not the only major part of the homecoming weekend, as it is accompanied by an assembly, a parade, and the homecoming pink-out football game as well.

All of these things thrown tightly into the span of three days were thoughtfully directed, decorated, and executed mainly by our own students. 

Mrs. Molatore, the Leadership class teacher at Wilsonville, explains how, “Pulling off homecoming is the equivalent of pulling off a music festival. The leadership 2 students did an incredible job accomplishing this huge task.”

Often overlooked by the chit-chat of the final product, every factor of all four occasions needed scripting, decoration-making, and awareness brought to them. Hosting the games and announcements at the assembly were our school’s Spirit Commissioners, Milan Dela Cruz and Kaia Hix. 

Together, they brought the pep and fun Wildcat spirit to the entire crowd, involving students in games and cheers together for the entire period.

Hix speaks on the process of creating their script for the assembly, stating, “We tried to emphasize games so we could have inclusivity by allowing students to volunteer for games.”

Also performing at the assembly was Wilsonville’s cheer squad, putting each member of the team in front of their respective grade level. 

Raina Simonton, senior cheer captain, speaks on her experience at the assembly, stating, “It is so much fun every time we perform, and it helps us connect with our grade levels as we split up.”

The hype created from this assembly was then carried into our parade and home football game the next day, with fans cheering and showing out with their pink outfits and accessories.

Wilsonville’s band, choir group, cheerleading squad, dance team, and robotics team all executed their own parts in making the game a wonderful experience, involving the spectators by throwing candy from the parade floats, utilizing a t-shirt cannon, and chanting cheers.

Local youth enrolled in cheer camp joined Wilsonville’s high school cheer and stood in front of the student section. With the lively tunes played by our band, they performed a variety of stunts, cheers, and songs. 

Simonton explains the process of preparing the cheerleaders for such a huge game, as both community members and students make this one of our largest turnouts each year. 

Simonton states, “It’s a lot of work, because we are not only training for our comp routine, but also working to gather all the kids since it’s youth night as well.”

Aiding cheer in keeping the crowd on their toes and loud was Hix, leading the student section, explaining, “I love getting the crowd hype. It was so much fun at the game. I think it’s really helpful for our team too.”

During halftime, Wilsonville’s dance team performed, followed by the presentation of the freshman through senior floats, and one made for the cheer team.

The class floats were intricately designed; organized by class representatives in Leadership 2 and built in the span of a few weeks, students took on strong roles in planning, building, and helping transport the colorful Disney-inspired creations.

By the end of the game, there was a final score of 51-7. The exciting blowout game had an incredible student turnout, and it is easy to say Hix’s belief that the student voices helped our football teams play is true.

 The last and most exciting part of the three-day homecoming weekend was the dance. On Saturday evening at 7:30, students began funneling into the school gym where they were met with lights, loud music, and Disney-themed decorations.

Both Leadership 1 and 2 worked together to lay out the props and signs made to cover the walls of the gym and the Performing Arts Center hallway. 

The execution was wonderful, and made the night a magical experience for every student involved, as they danced the night away with their friends.