Jefferson High Alumni To Celebrate With a Wealth of Activities

Homecoming—one of the early fall rites of high school passage that typically involves a football game and girls parading across the field at halftime in pretty dresses. But homecoming also means just that—coming home—and that’s what alumni will be doing on the weekend of Oct. 5 – 7, during the school’s Homecoming Alumni festivities.

The weekend starts off with a pre-game gathering at the high school on Friday from 5 – 7 p.m.

“We’ll provide hamburgers, hot dogs, subs, salads, Snapple and water,” said Terri Buchanan Tate, a member of the class of 1982. “We just need a count of how many will be attending. The cost of the event is $12 for adults and $8 for children. RSVP to Karen Slusark, kslusark@jefftwp.org.

Following the gathering will be the traditional homecoming football game, in which the Falcons take on Hanover Park High School.

Saturday morning brings student-led tours of the high school from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. This will be followed by Meet Me at Mahlon Dickerson at 12 p.m. Attendees can bring their own picnic or barbecue and meet up with old friends.

On Saturday night, while the current high school students are enjoying the Homecoming dance, individual classes can have their own parties.

Kim Tracy Bauer, also of the class of 1982, helped spearhead the idea of a weekend filled with activities.

“I thought that it would be good that if people were flying in from all over the place to come for the weekend, why not take advantage of it and get in a lot of activities?” she said.

She also was in favor of the idea of making most of the weekend events for all alumni, rather than just her class, which is celebrating its 30^th reunion this year.

“We spent time with other people besides just our own class, so I thought it would be good to have everyone involved,” she said. “But then I wanted each class, including my own, to have time alone, so I figured everyone could do their own party on Saturday night.”

Both Bauer and Tate have waxed philosophical about homecoming weekend.

“Times are tough in a lot of ways right now,” Tate said. “People are realizing what’s important to them.”

And Bauer hopes the event will have a dual effect.

“It will be great to see everyone again, but I’m hoping that this event becomes an annual one, and that it will raise pride in the school,” she said. “I’m thrilled to see all the people that are coming back. It’s important to me.”