After weeks of preparation and hard work from ASB, West Ranch High School students celebrated their long-awaited 2024 “Mamma Mia” themed Homecoming dance on Sept. 6. The week leading up to the event had many different activities for Wildcats to enjoy, including on-theme spirit days and the annual Homecoming spirit rally. ASB director Mrs. Priske and members of West Ranch ASB, including ASB President Jacob Almaria and Sophomore Niya Bidin said they spent over 30 hours in preparation for the Homecoming events. “It’s a lot because there are three main events; there’s the rally, the football game, and then the dance,” Mrs. Priske shared.
The preparation for Homecoming began as early as summer break with the decision of what the Homecoming theme should be. Almaria shared the process of choosing themes and spirit days: “Over the first couple weeks of summer, our rallies commission and our spirit commission meet to collaborate and work on all the themes for all the rallies and dances for the year.”
With two to three weeks of time in class to prepare for Homecoming spirit week, the ASB executive board learned how to delegate roles and jobs amongst all the members. While most members of ASB worked to create eye-catching posters for the rallies, Almaria further explained his position as president: “Essentially, I feel like my role is just to encourage our ASB members to just keep going. I have to keep the spirits up for that.”
Whether it’s in the classroom or in the gym for rally set-up, Almaria expressed how he always tries to keep a positive attitude and outlook within ASB in hopes that positivity will spread amongst members and encourage them.
Homecoming week is one of the most exciting and activity-filled weeks of the school year, which requires ASB members to maintain positive mindsets and attitudes to encourage participation from West Ranch students. “If it starts with E-board, it leads down to ASB which leads down to the rest of the student body. If the E-board has a positive attitude, it’ll spread,” Almaria expressed.
Rally setup is a long process that requires several hours of running through performances, hanging up posters and ensuring that everything is prepared for showtime. “Each class splits up into where their side is and starts taping their posters. We usually start with the big ones, like class banners, and for the underclassmen, the in-between poster,” Bidin explained.
ASB also worked diligently to advertise the event through posters, flyers and most importantly, social media to ensure that Wildcats all over campus participated. “Social media has been doing a really good job; they post all the time on what’s happening. Since we have simple spirit days, it’s something that people would want to do,” Bidin highlighted.
Over the years, ASB has seen that when it comes to spirit days, it is easier to encourage participation by emphasizing simplicity. Spirit days such as “White Wedding,” “Denim Day” and “Blue-Out” are practical for students to participate in, which cultivates a greater sense of school spirit and community on the West Ranch campus.
Mrs. Priske reiterated the impact of being involved in school activities: “You’re just a part of something and it could be something as little as wearing a red, white and blue shirt or whatever it is. Just to have that something to look forward to, or something to be included in, I think is super important.”
To kick off his senior year as ASB president, Almaria concluded with a sense of pride in his ASB members and in the West Ranch student body for making such a memorable Homecoming week. Cats, be on the lookout for ASB as they continue to plan amazing events to look forward to for the rest of the school year!
