Fox High School students are spending this week gearing up for the school’s annual homecoming football game and dance.
The school had five spirit days planned leading up to the home game at 7 p.m. Friday when the Fox High Warriors play host to Parkway North High School Vikings in the Gerald O’Connor Stadium, 751 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for students.
“I think everyone is excited,” said senior Avery McKinnon, 17, of Arnold, the Student Council social committee chair. “It is our only home game in October. We are promoting school spirit and offering incentives for students to participate throughout spirt week.”
The homecoming dance will be held Saturday and is open just to students and their guests.
The school’s king and queen will be crowned during the dance. This year’s homecoming court includes seniors Ella Jones, Lilianah Holt, Maddie Waeckerle, Jaylynn Barnhart, Billy Campos, Jacob Bellew, Zac Pisoni and Jordan Fassinou; and juniors Danika Gretzschel, Abby Pleimann, Maddie Landsbury, Abel Cullen, McKenna Walton and Gavin Berberich.
The court will be recognized prior to kickoff for Friday’s football game.
McKinnon said this year’s homecoming theme is “A Night in Rio.”
“It will be very colorful,” she said. “We are working on having tropical drinks at our concessions. We have palm tree balloons and pineapple balloons.”
The spirit-week theme days started with “Jungle Day” on Monday, when students were encouraged to wear animal-print clothing, followed by “Tropical Tuesday,” with students wearing Hawaiian shirts, flower leis and sunglasses.
Wednesday was “Samba Showdown,” when students wore their class colors – freshmen in green, sophomores in blue, juniors in purple and seniors in pink. Teachers wore yellow and orange.
Footwear is the focus today, Oct. 16, when students are encouraged to wear either Crocs or Birkenstocks. Friday’s theme is “Fox goes to Rio,” and students are encouraged to wear the Fox High spirit gear.
“I’m most excited for Wednesday’s Samba Showdown,” McKinnon said. “It’s one of the easiest days for students to participate since all you have to do is wear your class color, but it’s also one of the most spirited. Seeing each grade unite through color really brings out our school pride and community.”
McKinnon said the game theme is “white out,” and students are encouraged to wear home white Fox High clothing.
She said the homecoming game is among the most anticipated football matchups of the year.
“I think it is similar to our Seckman game with the energy,” McKinnon said.
The homecoming festivities also include a powder puff football game and a parade on the Fox school campus, which also includes an elementary and middle school, the Fox C-6 School District’s Central Office, the Bridges Alternative School and Rickman Auditorium.
The powder puff game, which pits girls from the junior and senior classes against each other, was scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the stadium. The contest also features performances by the Warriormen, a dance team made up of senior boys.
“(The game) is fun to play in. It puts people into roles that they don’t always get to be in a fun and competitive way,” McKinnon said.
The parade will be held on Friday while classes are in session, and it is only open to students and staff members.
“The elementary and middle school students love it,” McKinnon said. “We throw candy to them. I think the high school students who participate in it look forward to it. It is fun to support the students and athletes who go through the parade.”