With a pep fest Friday to announce the homecoming court, homecoming week for Austin High School is officially under way.
All of next week will be filled with activities, school spirit and sports. Everything is centered around this year's theme of "Declaw the Cougars," selected by the AHS student council.
Events kickoff this weekend with the powder puff football game at 5 p.m. Sunday at Wescott Field, and all of the grades will be represented.
"We're going to try to do it under the lights this year," said Andrea Malo, student council adviser.
Each weekday will be a spirit day with a different way for students to dress.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also on Monday, donuts will be on sale in between classes one and four; pop sales will be Tuesday. It's just a fun way for the kids to start off the week, Malo said.
The coronation will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Knowlton Auditorium. The king and queen will be crowned and the Austinaires will perform.
There's a bonfire in the evening Thursday at Marcusen Park. But before that, it's the Battle of Connects, which has become a student favorite, Malo said. Every class gets to participate in the field day of activities, with the winner being announced at Friday's pep fest.
Friday is one of the activity-packed days of the week. Students will get the excitement going with a 2:30 p.m. pep fest which will include the homecoming king and queen speaking, sports captains will get a chance to talk as well and the guy-girl dance will take place.
The homecoming parade follows at 3:30 p.m., with a slightly different route this year than in the past because of the construction on Main Street. Of course, the big homecoming football game is that night at 7 p.m. against Mankato East.
The week concludes with the homecoming dance for students from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday in Hastings gym.
Two Austin High School alumni will be honored by the AHS Alumni and Friends Association during the week as well. Timothy Hoopman (class of 1963) and Nancy (Jordan) Eitreim (class of 1960) are the 2011 Distinguished Alumni.
The public is invited to a reception and dinner for the distinguished alumni at the Hormel Historic Home Thursday (purchase tickets in advance). During the day on Thursday, Hoopman and Eitreim will each give a speech at the AHS assembly that morning.
