Tigers prepare for homecoming week

Students are expected to decorate the hallways of Mountain Home High School this weekend as part of this year's homecoming preparations.

Students at Mountain Home High School will showcase their Tiger spirit starting Monday as they prepare for this year's fall homecoming.

The week-long celebration culminates next Friday evening, Sept. 13, as the Mountain Home Tigers take on the Columbia Wildcats at Tiger Field.

Events planned this year center around the high school's homecoming theme: "In Every World, Tigers are #1."

The yearly festivities will actually start Saturday as students decorate the windows of four local-area businesses. The homecoming preparations will continue over the weekend as each class decorates their respective hallways at the high school.

Classes typically deck out their own hallways with posters, trinkets and baubles related to the homecoming theme. Taking the "world" theme to heart, the seniors will decorate their hallway based on the story, "Alice in Wonderland."

Meanwhile, the junior class will take a page from L. Frank Baum's series of books to recreate the magical Land of Oz to life. Sophomore students will turn their hallway into Willi Wonka's chocolate factory while the freshman take a page from the Hunger Games' novels for their creation.

Athletic competitions will highlight the competitive spirit of homecoming week. Action begins Monday evening during the annual macho man volleyball match. Scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium, admission is $2 or a donation of two canned goods per person.

Activities continue at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday as the sophomore, junior varsity and varsity volleyball squads compete in the high school gym.

Events then move to Tiger Field as the school's female junior and senior students compete in this year's powder puff football contest. Meanwhile, members of the school's football squads will serve as coaches during the game, which begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $2 or a donation of two canned goods per person.

The interschool sports action continues into Sept. 12 as the varsity and junior varsity soccer teams compete at 4:30 p.m. at Eastside Park.

Another homecoming tradition continues the afternoon of Sept. 13 as the school announces its candidates for this year's royal court. Men and women from each class are selected by their classmates during the annual voting. School officials will crown this year's homecoming king and queen and the rest of the royal court at halftime during the homecoming game.

Also next week, students have opportunities to demonstrate their Tiger pride by participating in daily theme events. It begins with "generation day" dress-up event on Monday with the freshman class hosting a three-legged race competition during lunchtime. In recognition of the day's theme, members of the freshmen class will dress up as babies, sophomores come as toddlers, juniors desk themselves out as adults while the seniors come dress up as senior citizens.

Tuesday's theme will focus on "nerd day" with the sophomore class scheduling a water balloon toss over the lunch break. The theme for Sept. 11 focuses on the phrase, "Would you still be my friend if I wore *that*?" Meanwhile, the junior class plan to host a lunchtime bubble whip competition.

The yearly dress-up day continues Sept. 12 during "Disney day" with the senior class planning to host a musical chairs competition featuring cake prizes. Later that day, students will join forces to decorate the high school gym in preparation for the following day's pep rally.

Homecoming week moves into full gear the afternoon of Sept. 13 with a homecoming assembly in the high school gym. Students are encouraged to show up that day in their orange and black attire as part of this year's Tiger Day.

The homecoming parade through Mountain Home will continue at 2 p.m. with pre-game festivities following at 4:30 p.m. with a tailgate party at Tiger Alley. The Mountain Home Tigers then put their pride on the line as they take on the Wildcats at 7 p.m. that evening.

Homecoming week winds down during the fall homecoming dance, which runs from 9 p.m. to midnight that night in the high school gym.

For more information on homecoming week, call the high school at 587-2570 or go online to www.mtnhomesd.org and select the Mountain Home High School link.