Homecoming Week taking hold at Johnston High School

It’s a terrific and time-honored treasure that dates back more than five decades.

Johnston High School’s annual Homecoming is an unmatched community celebration featuring eight extraordinary events that began yesterday and will continue though Saturday, Oct. 12.

“Everyone’s excited about Homecoming 2019,” said Greg Russo, who chairs the science department at Johnston High School and serves as faculty adviser for the Student Council. “The kids are really excited. It should be quite a show during the next week.”

As noted, the 2019 edition began yesterday when the sponsoring Student Council conducted its annual balloting for what Russo called “Homecoming Royalty.”

That voting determines which students will make up the 2019 Royal Court, which will culminate in the coronation of King and Queen of Homecoming at halftime of the Oct. 12 football game against the Lincoln Lions.

Tomorrow will be one of Homecoming’s most important events, though.

“It’s Pink Out Day, and this has been our first Spirit Day for quite some time,” Russo said. “It’s our students’ annual drive to stamp out breast cancer.”

Beginning Monday, Oct. 7, and continuing through Friday, Oct. 11, the pre-Homecoming happenings will feature theme days during Spirit Week.

Monday is Match Day, with Tuesday tagged as Onesie Day. Then it’s Tacky Tourist Day on Wednesday, when the final balloting for Homecoming Royalty will be held.

Thursday was dubbed Holiday Day, and each class will have a special theme like Fourth of July for the seniors and St. Patrick’s Day for the juniors. It will be Halloween for the juniors and Valentine’s Day for the freshmen.

Oct. 11 will be Blue and White Day, when the school-side pep rally serves as a kickoff for what Russo called “the overnights” who’ll be working around the clock on the Homecoming floats.

Moreover, the annual Homecoming Parade – which will again be led by Mayor Joseph Polisena and the Johnston Town Council, as well as Johnston Police and Fire departments – will also include numerous residents.

Saturday, Oct. 12, the floats will be transported from their secret locations to Johnston High School, while the Homecoming parade will step off at 10 a.m.

"Johnston residents love this parade,” Russo said. “It’s always a special sight to see people lining up along Atwood and Hartford avenues to view what is always a special and colorful line of march.”

The annual Alumni Breakfast, which is coordinated each and every year by the Johnston Lions Club, will be held in the high school’s cafeteria beginning at 11 a.m. The football game is set to kick off at 1:30 p.m.

Homecoming 2019 will conclude, at least in part, at 8 p.m. Saturday night with the annual dance.

“Then, we’ll be looking forward to the Battle of the Classes on Tuesday, Oct. 15,” Russo announced. “The rain date is Oct. 17, and if you’ve never seen this event, plan on taking it in. The spirit is unmatched anywhere.”