The smell of school spirit will rise at five U46 high schools when Homecoming Week gets underway Sunday at Elgin High School and will run through Oct. 8 at Larkin High School.
From the annual powderpuff game to the Homecoming dance and bonfires to assemblies, this year’s festivities feature a number of attractions.
“The school spirit and camaraderie among players, coaches, students and alumni at these games can’t be beat,’” said Tony Sanders, Chief Executive Officer at School District U-46 in a news release. “Everyone is a winner at these events as students build life-long memories and communities rally around their schools.”
Schools kickoff their week with a Homecoming Parade and conclude with a football game and a night of dancing, officials said.
A Powderpuff game will be held at each high school, where girls lace up to play flag football while the boys cheer on their classmates, officials said.
At Elgin High School, this year’s celebration includes an induction of 40 graduates into the Alumni Hall of Fame at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 as well as an appearance by Miss Elgin 1962 and Tony Award-nominated actress Sara Melissa Hart, who will be recognized at the Homecoming game as an Alumni Hall of Fame inductee on Sept. 23.
The football team for Bartlett High School will host their first home game in their new activity complex at 12 p.m. Oct. 8. Members of the community, students and leaders spent time volunteering to help put down sod and goal posts last summer, officials said. The Rotary Club of Bartlett donated $25,000 toward the school’s activity complex for scoreboard installation, officials said.
“Having a game on home turf is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the community, staff and students both past and present,” said Mike Demovsky, Principal at Bartlett High School. “This is a dream that began in 2008 and it feels surreal that it’s just a few weeks away.”
Elgin High School
•Parade: 11 a.m. Sunday, near Prairie Street and Grove Avenue in Elgin.
•Powderpuff game: 6 p.m. Wednesday, EHS Memorial Stadium.
•Hall of Fame induction ceremony: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, EHS library commons.
•Assembly: 2 p.m. Sept 23, EHS Field House.
•Varsity football game: 7:30 p.m. Sept 23, EHS Memorial Stadium.
•Dance: 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 24, EHS Field House.
Streamwood High School
•Iron Sabre Contest: 2:55 p.m. Sept. 27, SHS.
•Powderpuff games: 5:30 p.m. (freshmen vs. sophomores), 6:30 p.m. (juniors vs. seniors), Sept. 28, SHS Millennium Field.
•Bonfire: 7 p.m. Sept 29, SHS back field.
•Assembly: 2 p.m. Sept 30, SHS gymnasium.
•Varsity football game: 7 p.m. Sept 30, SHS Millennium Field.
•Dance: 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 1, main gym.
South Elgin High School
•Powderpuff game: 4 p.m. Sept. 30, SEHS Stadium.
•Bonfire: after powderpuff game Sept. 30, SEHS Stadium.
•Football games: 11 a.m. (sophomore team), 1:30 p.m. (varsity), Oct. 1, SEHS Stadium.
•Dance: 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 1, SEHS gymnasium.
Bartlett High School
•Parade: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 2, South Bartlett Road in downtown Bartlett.
•Powderpuff game: 6 p.m. Oct. 5, SHS Millennium Field, 701 W. Schaumburg Road.
•Assembly: 1:45 p.m. Oct. 7, BHS gymnasium.
•Hawkfest: 5 p.m. Oct. 7, BHS parking lot.
•Varsity football game: noon Oct. 8, BHS activity complex (home football field).
•Dance: 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 8, BHS gymnasium.
Larkin High School
•Powderpuff game: 4 p.m. Oct. 3, EHS Memorial Stadium, 1200 Maroon Drive, Elgin.
•Assembly: 1 p.m. Oct. 7, LHS gymnasium.
•Parade: 2 p.m. Oct. 7, Vans Street to Clifton Avenue in Elgin.
•Varsity football game: 7 p.m. Oct. 7, EHS Memorial Stadium, 1200 Maroon Drive, Elgin.
•Dance: 7 p.m. Oct. 8, LHS commons/gymnasium.