coming home
Rocklin High to welcome back grads with parade

By: Brad Alexander, The Placer Herald
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 4:27 PM PDT

Junior class officers, above, Courtney Buzdon and Emma Lyle pomp the skirting for the junior class float for Friday's homecoming game. Left, freshman class president Shaina Campbell, class representative Ashley Linnane and vice president Shannon Stowers (front to back) pomp the backdrop for the freshman class float for Friday's homecoming game. Brad Alexander/ The Placer Herald

This week Rocklin High School students are taking over their parents' houses to get ready for Friday's 10th annual homecoming.

From freshman to seniors, each class is preparing elaborate floats to represent their school pride. This year brings extra pressure to impress, as alumni from the nine graduating classes will be attending Rocklin's football game.

This year's theme is "Homecoming Across the Board," each class has taken on a different board game to represent their school pride as they attempt to out-do the other classes.

"It's exciting, we've been working so hard on this all year," said junior class representative Emma Lyle. The juniors hope their Jumanji-themed float really jumps out and makes an impression on the crowd.

The planning for the parade begins shortly after the previous year's homecoming. In May Activities Director John Thompson takes the newly elected student government on a camping trip to talk business.

"On the trip, the students select themes for the parade and I give them deadlines to meet throughout the year that builds up to this week," Thompson said. "They usually spend three or four hours just coming up with the theme."

Once the design plans and budget is organized, the building can begin. For some the building is the easiest part of the whole project.

Students must have a detailed materials list, including the cost of each item. The students have spent a large amount of their time tracing the aisles of local hardware stores.

"The budget is definitely one of the most difficult things," said Lyle. "Home Depot is like our new home."

The construction for the floats began early Saturday morning and often leads late into the evening. Each class feels the pressure to out perform the others. Some students consider the homecoming as a good chance for the whole school to feel united, even in competition.

"During the school year we have split lunches, but during homecoming week we all eat lunch together," said senior Kristian Klebofski. "The differently themed days give everyone a chance to be together and be involved."

The seniors hold the most experience as several four-year veterans are developing their Mousetrap themed float. However, even the freshman class feels like it has a chance to take the top spot with its Hungry, Hungry Hippos-themed float.

"We are worried about the seniors the most because they have all the experience. They have awesome people working on their float," said freshman class president Shaina Campbell. "But our class is very spirited. We won the last rally."

Throughout the school year, each class earns spirit points for getting involved with the school and their classmates in different rally activities, like dress-up days. The homecoming is a chance to pick up a huge number of points.

The freshmen stand in second place behind the seniors.

The floats and homecoming royalty will roll onto the field during halftime of Friday's football game. The Rocklin Thunder plays Reed High School after the alumni parade at 7 p.m.

The alumni parade will consist of 10 years of alumni handing the game ball to Rocklin High School varsity head coach Greg Benzel, who has coached every level of football at the school at some point in his career.