CFHS has 'fantastic' homecoming

CLARK FORK — Whipped cream explosions, terse dance-offs and motivational speeches: these were but a few of the sights and sounds that defined Clark Fork High School’s homecoming week.

Festivities began last Monday and continued throughout the week. They included a pair of pep rallies, powderpuff football, a volleyball game and a bonfire where the students burned their homecoming opponents’ school emblems. The homecoming football game took place on Friday night and the dance followed directly thereafter.

Credit for the successful week is mostly due to the student council. This year, the school administration allowed students more control over planning the week than ever before. They also allowed the council to use school hours rather than their own time for planning sessions. All these factors contributed to what the students widely praised as their most elaborate and unifying homecoming week yet.

“I’ve only been here two years,” said Tom Bass, the administrative supervisor during homecoming planning. “But from everyone I’ve talked to,  they’ve said unanimously that they did a fantastic job.”

Planning for homecoming began straight away in the second week of the school year once the student council was fully organized. They met every other day and quickly had a schedule of events organized. Student council president Zara Palmer said the meetings were always efficient and productive, a claim few political bodies can boast.

“Everyone was contributing with really good ideas,” she said. “We have some great people in student leadership this year, and they made the planning go by very smoothly.”

Friday’s pep rally particularly proved eventful. Select teachers, including Bass, faced a firing squad armed with whipped cream pies. Later, the students turned on their own, pulling individuals from the bleachers for another round of dairy to the face. The various classes also tested their mettle with tug-of-war and touch football games. Finally, teachers announced the homecoming royalty and awarded the senior class what can only be described as a gigantic blue stick of authority.

 As student body president, Palmer emceed Friday’s pep rally right up until she won the title of homecoming queen. As the only qualified candidate, she was gracious in victory.

“Basically, I won by default,” she said. “So that was kind of a bummer.”

Clark Fork’s 2010 homecoming sets a high bar for subsequent classes to hurdle. But according to Bass, the student council received exactly what they put into it.

“They put a lot of work into it, and it turned out wonderfully,” he said. “They deserve to enjoy the week.”