Sara Sandstrom, Nederland. How does a high school celebrate the traditional fall homecoming events during a pandemic? The Nederland High School Student Council (StuCo) and their sponsor Kelly Strong made it happen by thinking outside the normal parade and dance. The world has become extremely virtual and they went to Instagram to bring Homecoming 2020 to all students. 

Ms. Strong says, “The entire goal of Student Council this year is to continue some of the important traditions of a normal school year for our seniors and to keep students connected during this disconnected time. These goals inspired a virtual homecoming week. We are highlighting the traditions of individual and class competitions and spirit week and encouraging participation through our Instagram page.”

Nederland Middle Senior High School has a group of nine juniors and seniors who are part of the Executive Student Council. These students oversee the rest of the Student Council and manage the school’s Instagram page. Ms. Strong says that the virtual homecoming was entirely their idea and they are executing it beautifully. Executive Student Council members are Sydney Mayhew, Maddie Prince, Meagan Figgins, Ely Nitsch, Ivy Brundage, Zach Weiner, Skylee Barry, Eirwen McClish, and Natalie Taylor.

During this spooky homecoming week StuCo was polling students to calculate participation each day and students entered individual competitions by posting pictures on Instagram.

There were competitions for the best in baking, pumpkin carving, decorated workspace and costumes. During the week of October 26, 2020, each class had a theme. For seniors it was pumpkins and corn mazes, juniors had skeletons and graveyards, sophomores had clowns and carnivals, freshmen had werewolves and enchanted forests and the middle school had ghosts and haunted houses. 

The senior class won the spirit week class competition. Individual winners were Eliza Brundage in baking, Lucy Schalz in pumpkin carving, Zach Weiner in decorated workspace and Elise Brodsky for the best costume. Each individual winner received a $25 Amazon gift card. School staff judged the competitions based on the photos that were submitted. 

In a year when big gatherings are not possible, and a number of students continue school at home this was a Nederland Panther homecoming success. These students deserve congratulations for their creativity and commitment to stick together as a community. 

(Originally published in the November 5, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)