Redwood’s Homecoming game was last Friday night, September 10. This is the first time we were able to have a student section filled with school spirit in a long time.
Redwood’s ASB decided it was finally time to bring out the full Ranger experience to make this a Homecoming to remember.
In addition to all of the activities over the week, ASB pulled out as much Ranger spirit as possible with decorations, the classic parade, performances, and the center of it all- the crowning at half-time.
Paiten Blankenship, ’22 is a member of ASB. She says, “We had to make posters, we had to wrap mylar around the poles, we had to put up the posters, and things like that.”
Jackson Marquez, ’23 is ASB’s Inter-Club commissioner.
He says, “Part of it was brainstorming, too because with Disney, you have to find things that work with the theme, like the houses and reveal, that was a whole other thing we struggled with.”
The planning was separated by committees such as the luncheon committee, the lunchtime activity committee, and more.
Jonathan Luna, ’24 was a part of the lunch-time activity committee. He, along with many others, planned fun lunchtime activities for the nominees over the week.
He says, “It was fun, we all brainstormed ideas to put into this week and went off from there. It was exciting to see what we came up with this week.”
Mrs. Aston, Redwood’s ASB director, is very proud of her students’ work. She says, “It was so much work, the ASB kids have really worked their butts off, but I’m so proud of them. I’m so proud of the way it looks, and how many people are here, and the energy of the students.”
Redwood’s Homecoming Queen, Brianna Abney, ’22 and Homecoming King, Eczequiel Jaurrieta, ’22 are very grateful for what ASB did for them.
Abney says, “It was really nice, it’s been so long, and for it being our first Homecoming in a while, I really appreciate it and it was a lot of fun.”
Jaurrieta adds, “It feels really great, you know? My freshman and sophomore year, I was out on the track at the football games every single Friday night. I played music for them and I had fun surrounded in the student section. It’s been a long time, and I’m really glad we’re coming back to that.”
As Aston says, putting on the Homecoming game was a lot of work and it wouldn’t be possible without Redwood’s very own ASB. They spent weeks planning, making decorations, and doing all of the things that made Homecoming as amazing as it was.
The students felt amazing about how everything turned out, as they should be. Blankenship says, “I am so proud, it feels amazing. After not doing it for so long, it feels so nice to get back into it.”
Luna says, “It felt awesome in the way we turned back to our Ranger spirit, you know? It’s exciting to see what we came up with this week.”
Marquez adds, “It feels actually really great, like what Paiten said, I love it. It’s going to take a while to get used to things again, we need a bit of practice with stuff, but we’ll get the swing of it sooner or later.”
When asked how she felt seeing all of their planning coming together, Aston said, “I love it. This is one of my favorite things to see, the kids excited and happy for each other. I love the kids’ excitement, and I’m just happy to be here.”
Ayla Ozturk
Ayla Ozturk, class of 2024, is a fourth-year journalism student passionate about leading the News section. She is dedicated to informing students and amplifying their voices through Government and Politics writing.
You can reach her at ayla.oz3769@vusd.us.
Tags: ASB, ayla ozturk, gopo, government and politics, hailey aston, homecoming, homecoming game, jackson marquez, paiten blankenship, rangers, Redwood, redwood asb, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca