The halls of La Porte High School were filled with much spirit this past week, as Monday kicked off the school’s annual Spirit Week festivities. For four fun-filled days, the school displayed its Slicer Pride in anticipation of Homecoming on Friday. Various theme days, bonfires, and other events highlighted Spirit Week, which concluded with the football team’s game against Michigan City on Friday night.
Monday began the week with a little bit of brotherly love as the theme of the day was Twin Day. Students of all grades wore matching clothes with their best friends. A common sight on Twin Day was the wearing of Jake West t-shirts. The shirts celebrate and remember the life of junior Jake West, who passed away suddenly and tragically on September 25.
“Jake’s death hit the whole school pretty hard. Since he won’t be on the field with us on Friday, I think it’s important to remember him throughout the festivities this week,” said Drew Kessler, a senior on the football team.
After school on Monday was the Homecoming Bonfire. The Student Council organizes the bonfire every year. To begin the bonfire, several games and competitions were held, including a three-legged race, pie-eating contest, and water balloon toss.
“The three-legged race was a lot of fun. Me and my partner would’ve won if we didn’t trip at the finish line!” claimed senior Logan Dubbs.
Following the games, La Porte High School’s cheerleaders and the pom and dance team performed for the students. At the conclusion of the performances, the homecoming candidates were introduced. Then the massive, ten-foot-tall bonfire was lit, illuminating all of Kesling Park.
Tuesday was a teacher in-service day, so the festivities continued on Wednesday with Flashback Day. Students wore clothes in the fashions of the past, from colonial days to the hippie era.
“My grandma still has a lot of groovy clothes from the sixties, so I thought it would be funny if I wore them to school!” said junior Zach Kehoe.
Thursday was Superhero Day, and the Slicers wore costumes of their favorite heroes to school. While many students looked like Superman or Batman, junior Emily Nowak said, “For Superhero Day, I wore my SUS shirt because it was Jake’s favorite word and he’s my superhero.”
Friday was Homecoming, and nearly every student wore orange and black to show off his or her Slicer pride. At the end of the day, the school had a large pep rally, with performances again by the pom and dance team and the cheerleaders, motivational speeches by students and coaches, and even a dance-off between Mr. Coe, the choir instructor, and Chris Sales, a senior.
“I think recent events have really brought the school closer together, and that made this year’s Spirit Week the best one I can remember. If our team can get a win tonight, it will be the perfect ending to an awesome week,” said senior Miles Droege.
La Porte has a unique homecoming format, with 21 clubs all electing their own candidates. The candidates and their clubs are: Delanie Alcorn and Jake Benefiel, FCA; Tyler Baker and Erin Pickford, French Club; Michael Vowell and Taylor Simon, German Club; Austin Todd and Griselda Montanez, Spanish Club; Alejandro Flores and Emily Barsic, Concert Choir; Nik Vance and Jessica Kirkham, Show Choir; Joshua Cornwell and Conner Dawson, Symphony Orchestra; Tate Wooding and Abi Tarnow, Marching Band; Johnna Belkiewitz and Justin Mazany, Art Club; Andrew Frecke and Lindsey Galloway, Photo Club; Jacob Lindsey and Taylor Brady, Ecology Club; Lenden Battle and Chloe Christ, STAND Club; Jessica Bohlin, Tau Sigma Chi; Taylor Goodwin, Girs’ Reserve; Nick Komasinski and Sierra Mullican, FYI; Jonathon Klingenmeier and Ashlan Moore, Hi Times; Danielle Plank and Michael Taulbee, EL PE; Alex Nelson and Abigail Witherow, Speech and Debate; Anthony Raymond and Elena Lancioni, National Honor Society; and Joshua Noll and Alexa Blanton, Student Council.
“Win or lose, just to be nominated is amazing. I think we can all agree that it has been an incredible week,” said candidate Connor Dawson. The winners will be announced at halftime at the football game.