Fall activities for area schools are back.
Compared to last year when the pandemic disrupted sports, dances and parades, lineups are returning at Herndon and South Lakes schools and others.
Students are wearing masks as they attend school and make traditional homecoming decorations in school hallways; vaccine mandates for athletes have brought high school football back with as much normalcy as possible.
There will still be some differences as COVID-19 precautions persist: James Madison High School’s dance will be held Saturday night in two large tents at the school’s rear parking lot. The theme is “Highway to Homecoming.”
Last year, football and other fall sports were canceled as students largely studied remotely. Herndon canceled its homecoming parade, too, which can involve over 1,500 participants, and the school held a live virtual event for homecoming.
“Homecoming is a longstanding tradition in the Herndon community. It is very much a full-community effort,” Principal Liz Noto said in a statement, noting that many alumni return for the afternoon football game.
The Herndon Homecoming Parade will require all participants to wear a mask. It starts at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at Herndon Middle School and runs along Elden Street from Locust Street/Sterling Road to Lynn Street. The game against Washington-Liberty High School is at 1 p.m.
@SLHS2022 is ready for Homecoming Week! #lockerpoddecorations #spiritweekbegins @FCPSRegion1 pic.twitter.com/n0Z3p3Qnsa
— South Lakes High School (@southlakeshs) October 7, 2021
The South Lakes Seahawks will have their homecoming parade from 5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 starting at Hunters Wood Plaza and ending at the high school.
The school will have its homecoming parade start at Hunters Wood Plaza and arrive at the high school before the big game that night at 7 against Chantilly.
Photo via twitter.com/southlakeshs
The South Lakes High School homecoming parade is scheduled for today (Friday).
The parade, which is set for 5-6 p.m., will feature student organizations, class councils, clubs, team, community groups, elementary schools, and the school’s marching band, The Spirit of Reston.Â
This year’s theme is “A Seahawk in Hollywood.”
The parade begins at 5 p.m. from Hunters Woods Shopping Center. It will continue north on Colts Neck Drive, turn east onto South Lakes Drive and finish at SLHS. Expect traffic delays along Colts Neck Road and South Lakes Drive this evening.
The football game against McLean High School begins at 7 p.m. shortly after the parade.
Photo via South Lakes High School
The deadline to participate in Herndon’s Homecoming Parade is approaching.
Monday (Sept. 23) is the last day for organizations to register for representation in the parade on Saturday, Oct. 19. Those wishing to simply watch the parade may line up at 9:30 a.m. around Elden Street on the day of the parade.
“Into the Future” will be this year’s parade theme. Participants are welcome to join the parade with a vehicle-powered float, walking float or a group of people, the application form said.
There will be prizes for floats that demonstrate outstanding creativity and adherence to the theme for the following groups:
- School Group
- Performing Group
- Civic Group
- HHS Class Float
- Show Group
Parade organizers want floats to be presentable from both sides, fit the theme and appeal to a wide variety of age groups.
Anyone wishing to volunteer and assist with the parade may sign up online.
More than 58 units and around 1,300 participants took part in the 2018 parade, according to the event website.
Photo via Herndon Parks and Recreation
Tonight’s South Lakes High School homecoming parade has been cancelled.
The high school cited safety and health concerns for the cancellations; the forecast tonight calls for heavy rain and cold temperatures, as a Nor’easter storm moves into the area.
Tonight’s South Lakes vs. Yorktown football game is still on for 7 p.m.
Sorry folks, we are disappointed too.
Game is still on at 7 on
Please spead the word@SLHShypesquad @RestonNow @RestonPatch @SLHS2020 @SLHS2019 @2021SLHS @SLHS2022 @SouthLakesSGA @SeahawkBoosters https://t.co/25LGnArHCG— SouthLakes Athletics (@SeahawkSports) October 26, 2018
The South Lakes High School homecoming parade is scheduled for Oct.26 (Friday), and students are taking advantage of the opportunity to fundraise for a good cause.
The school’s leadership class will fundraiser for Hungry for Music, an organization that buys instruments for children who cannot afford their own. The class aims to raise $1,000 to purchase 20 instruments for an after-school program. Collection baskets and tables at homecoming activities will be open for donation throughout the week of the parade.
The parade, which is set for 5-6 p.m., will feature student organizations, class councils, clubs, team, community groups, elementary schools, and the school’s marching band, The Spirit of Reston. Student-built boats will reflect the theme of “Tune in to South Lakes.” Each grade will select a music genre and the grand marshall this year is SLHS teacher Chris Moorhead, according to information provided by the school.
The parade begins at 5 p.m. from Hunters Woods Shopping Center. It will continue north on Colts Neck Drive, turn east onto South Lakes Drive and finish at SLHS. A small food court will be set-up in the stadium-side parking lot with food trucks from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The football game against Yorktown High School begins at 7 p.m. shortly after the parade. Admission is $5 and the Class of 1998 will also be on-site to celebrate their 20th reunion.
Photo via Lyn Fiscus
South Lakes High School’s Homecoming week culminated in a public celebration on Friday as the annual Homecoming Parade marched from Hunters Woods Village Center to South Lakes High School.
The parade included students from the Advancement Via Individual Determination program, which is allows students with academic potential to take challenging courses that lead to four-year college enrollment. The first AVID class at the high school will graduate in June 2018.
Photos courtesy of Sherry Evans and David Cordts
