The leaves are turning, scary movies are hitting the screens, and the smell of pumpkin spice is filling the air, which for Parkland can only mean one thing: homecoming. On the infamous date of Friday the 13th, selected members of school clubs spent the day at the Orefield bus garage, working with their advisors to practice their thematic skits and create decorative floats. The skits were performed for a panel of judges, then, the builders jumped on their creations to ride them through halftime at the football game that very night.
Vice Principal Dr. Drake rallied the ambitious builders in the early morning, inspiring all to work hard and have fun. These words of encouragement were needed since the students were going to be constructing intricate feets of creativity and engineering, as well as perfecting their performances, in just a seven hour period. Some clubs had been thinking ahead, such as the French Honors Society, who got a head start on their Olympic themed float on September 28th. However, for the majority of these students, this would be an all day, start-to-finish endeavor. Luckily, their efforts would not be forgotten. Parkland TV and Film were doing their part in documenting the experience, snagging interviews and taking video footage of the club’s creative process.
There were many amazing floats being constructed on that day. The Trumpet took note of some striking details: like how the boy’s volleyball team had figured out a way to incorporate hay into their float, or how the Art Honors Society put their design skills to use in a “Stranger Things” inspired build.
One memorable float in particular was from Parkland’s Take a Break Club. They grabbed their inspiration from Barbie, everyone’s favorite summer blockbuster. The members could be seen (and heard) from across the lot, practicing their choreography to songs like “Pink ” by Lizzo and “Journey to the Real World” by Tame Impala. The upbeat tunes spread throughout the lot and reminded the students of a happier time, when college applications and scantron tests were still a distant future, and Ryan Gosling’s performance as Ken was the only thing on everyone’s mind.
The last float (actually it would be more accurate to say the last automobile) to be paraded homecoming night belonged to Interact Club, which displayed their “Stuff the Bus” initiative. They are responsible for collecting the donated food throughout the weeks leading up to homecoming and filling a yellow school bus to the brim to donate to Parkland’s food pantries. This venture often produces a surplus of cereal, canned goods, packaged snacks, and other goodies, as clubs compete to see who can collect the most food. The Interact members presented a recreation of the house and subsequent balloons from the Pixar classic “Up,” inspired by this year’s homecoming theme of ‘Adventure Awaits’. This service club knew that the iconic symbol of the old man’s floating abode from most high schoolers’childhood would be sure to spark the spirit of adventure into their hearts.
