Bellefonte organizes homecoming, despite differences from the past
Sign to honor essential workers continuing to serve the community during the pandemic.
Student council worked with alumni to create a video about favorite homecoming memories. Additionally, seniors David McAndrew and Alexia Mishock were named homecoming king and queen during a ceremony on October 17 at Rogers Stadium. They were among a group of other seniors on the homecoming court that included Haley Cameron and Isaiah Nadolsky; Conner Bernier and Morgan Goodman; Maddie Morelli and Nathan Taylor; and Chris Paloskey and Kira Watson. Underclassmen homecoming royalty were juniors Nick Pacella and Ava Seigworth; sophomores Nate Fisher and Haley Rogers; and freshmen Madison Berry and Owen Pettina.
Because the homecoming parade was canceled, student council found a way to make up for it, by working with class advisers and other members of each class to hold a bleacher-decorating contest. Teacher and student council adviser Heather Huntsinger said this competition replaced class floats that would have typically been seen during the parade throughout Bellefonte if it wasn’t canceled.
This year’s theme was “Netflix series,” which judges awarded places for each class as they would have if decorating a float. The Class of 2023 placed first, followed by the freshmen, juniors and seniors.
And of student council’s most memorable activities during homecoming each year, includes its dedication. Each year, the group chooses someone or a group of people from the community to honor. This year, they decided to honor all essential workers that the council said in a statement have tirelessly and unselfishly continued to work for the community, despite the pandemic.
“Being an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic meant potential exposure to COVID-19, while performing their job duties,” the statement said. “Essential workers continue to deal with the new stresses of adding social distancing measures to their jobs, shifting work hours, changing childcare needs with school closures, among many other challenges – all while serving our community during this stressful time. … We want to take a moment to thank all of the dedicated essential workers that are keeping us safe and functioning.”
For the dedication, teacher and co-adviser Jen Richardson wrote a note of thanks to those who have served as essential workers during the pandemic. The dedication was printed in the program and read at the Oct. 17-ceremony. Student council created a list of local businesses with essential staff and had window and yard signs made, which could be seen around school grounds and in the community to recognize those businesses and individuals.