For over 60 years, South students have gathered brushes and paint to continue the homecoming tradition of banner painting, which combines creativity and competition while bringing clubs together, Dr. Mark Maranto, Assistant Principal of Student Activities said.
Painting takes place the week preceding homecoming everyday after school in the West Cafeteria, and this year’s theme is “Game On”, with over 30 clubs participating, according to the Student Activities Office (SAO). The SAO provides materials like paintbrushes, paint, and the banners, Maranto said.
“It’s a really fun activity for people to bond with their club members,” Maranto said. “The clubs work collectively on a banner, which is later displayed. But they also make memories together.”
All the clubs participate in a competition, and when the winner is selected, they can have their banner displayed in halls for others to see, Maranto said. The winning banner is chosen by a group of administrative assistants from each department, who look for creativity, artistic ability, and relevance to the theme, Maranto explained.
Senior Haniah Mohammed, Muslim Student Association (MSA) President, participated in this year’s competition because it promotes the community of a club.
“Each club gets to express their individuality and what their club is about,” Mohammed said.“It’s important because it also promotes [clubs] to other [students].”
Clubs can also choose to walk in the annual parade with their banners, Maranto said.
“I love to watch all the groups sit together with their friends, listening to music, talking, and working on the banner together,” Maranto said.
Senior Khatanbolor Erdenebat, Mongolian American Student Organization (MASO) member, believes this event is important because it builds a community within the club, Erdenebat said. While it is a competition, Erdenebat sees this as an opportunity to see the way other clubs present themselves and find out what each club is about, she said.
“I’m looking forward to all the new banners from all the different clubs, and to see which one’s going to win,” Erdenebat said.
The culmination of homecoming week is the parade, the morning of homecoming and features banners not only from South clubs but also performances by the Marching Band and floats from the Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes. On the parade route, South students, their parents and siblings, line the route along Glenview Road to Jackman Park and hand out candy, adding to the overall experience, Mohammed said.
“It’s very cool walking [in] it,” Mohammed said. “[And] you [also] get to express your club in a way that’s more artistic and it gives you the option to see other clubs that you may want to join.”
