A Coronado Circus

By Frances Vanderploeg

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 | midnight

Coronado High School student body officers have had one thing on their minds for the past few weeks: Homecoming.

On Sept. 26, it arrived, and they said it was worth it.

"We had no life, seriously," said senior class president Lindsay Scott, 17. "(But) it's sad when it's all over."

Homecoming for Coronado, as at most schools, is a weeklong process, encompassing several spirit-promoting days followed up by a spirit assembly, tailgate party, football game and dance.

The theme this year was "A Cirque du Cougar," or just "Circus" according to most of the students. Student floats reflected it, covered with Ferris wheels and circus animals. At an assembly, they had several performances, including one courtesy of the school's circus club, featuring students riding unicycles, among other things.

The homecoming king — Cory Argubright — was announced at the assembly while the queen — Tatum Gormley — was announced at halftime during the game.

Teachers and administrators got into the spirit of things as well. For Friday, when the students were encouraged to wear the school colors of blue and red, they were greeted by a fortune teller, clown, lion and ring master.

Assistant Principal Paul Fagone dressed as the clown, teacher Dawn Starry dressed as the fortune teller, teacher Mike Clark dressed as the lion and teacher Matt Nishimoto dressed as the ring master.

"We asked them, but they were happy to do it," senior representative Kara Burnett, 17, said.

Students said Coronado students usually show their spirit on spirit days. They had several outlets on this particular day.

At the tailgate party, one of the biggest events for the homecoming week, students had the opportunity to judge a student car show featuring cars that belonged to students, their parents, teachers and former students.

Jordan Payne, 16, won the show, placing first over a Ferrari and Viper with his Mazda RX8.

Several people expressed their shock that he won over the other two, but Payne didn't seem surprised.

"This is mine, whereas those cars are their parents'," he said. "I think the other students recognize that. They see me drive to school every day and can appreciate it."

Payne said his job at Subway allowed him to outfit his car with custom interior, strobe lights and neon lights all around, as well as a loud, quality sound system.

Jason Ahlin, a former student who was at the tailgate party, said he thought the sound system helped Payne win.

"Everyone was crowded around his car because it has sound," he said.

For winning, Payne received a $100 gas card to Chevron.

Another staple of the tailgate party was the junk car in the parking lot for the students to beat up for $1 a turn.

It's one of the highlights of the event and always draws a huge crowd. This year it was painted green and blue, the colors of opposing team Green Valley High School.

"It's symbolic," auto teacher Dawnne Smith said. "It implies that we're beating up on Green Valley like we hope our football team will do."

With the extra dose of team spirit, several school clubs took advantage to make extra money for their cause, selling bracelets, T-shirts, snow cones and bead necklaces.

Each year, the drama club sells the bead necklaces. By the time school ended, it had made more than $400 off of the red, white and blue necklaces, and the purple and yellow joker clackers.

Crystal Tedrow, 16, wandered the parking lot during the tailgate party with her fellow drama students, slapping her clackers together to draw attention to the group.

"We do it every year for Homecoming," she said as dozens of necklaces hung off her neck and arm. "As far as I know, we're the only ones selling beads."

All money collected goes back to the club for productions and school events, she said.

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or [email protected].