The Traditions of Redwood Homecoming

By: Brandon Andrade, Nick Trevino and Krissy Hetherington

Tradition. Changing every year with each new generation that enters the Redwood family. For years, the traditions of Homecoming have changed yet stayed very similar to the roots in which they were born. From the homecoming kickoff rally, the homecoming parade, and even the balloons in a box, change has made its way into every little thing leaving each year just a little different than the last.

We were able to talk to three Redwood staff members who shared insight on what they knew Redwood Homecoming as. Mrs. Barba-Tepper, Assistant Principal, grew up watching the week unfold since her mom was a part of it every year working at Redwood. Mrs. Bardonnex, Dance teacher, was crowned Redwood Homecoming Queen her senior year in 1984 and Mrs. Garcia, Foods and Nutrition teacher on campus, was part of her Top 5 Homecoming Court in 1989.

Starting with the nominee luncheon, usually a week before actual Homecoming week, this tradition has been around for decades but has been moved back and forth over the years. Before Mrs. Aston and before Mr. Miller were ASB directors, Homecoming was a three week special. During the first week, the luncheon would take place on a Friday and afterschool, Top 10 would be announced on a poster. But to make Homecoming more special and not drawn out, the luncheon was moved just recently to right before the big week so nominees and their escorts could enjoy the meal together with friends and fellow classmates.

Here’s where it gets tricky. The Homecoming rally. In the 80s, Bardonnex and Garcia remember seniors picking the Top 5 the week before Homecoming week then during an assembly on Friday, the names would be announced. This allowed the Top 5 2 extra days over the weekend to prepare whereas now the seniors only have 4 short days to prepare their extra spirited outfits for the dress up days, a formal dress for Friday, and minor details in between such as campaigning and the Great Race usually on Thursday at lunch. 

Barba-Tepper explained that she remembers the second week, of the old 3-week tradition, included the Top 10 being introduced through videos on Friday at the assembly as well as the Spirit Days through a “Fashion Walk.” Garcia explained the spirit of dressing up as “holidays, there was always so much buildup and the kids always got very involved.”

Top 10 was voted on by Senior class (popular vote) but from there, they had an interview process with a panel of adults to choose the Top 5 in the middle of the week. Top 10 added suspense to who was Top 5 and got closer to being crowned queen. 

As far as Homecoming Day, of course it was busy for the Top 5 every year. Bardonnex described her experience, “We came to school dressed, all went over to a house on Main street, took pictures, ate lunch, came back to school for an hour, campaigned and hung out with kids, then went to dinner downtown all together.” Sounds pretty similar to nowadays and to Mrs. Garcia’s experience as well, “Everybody took pictures at the house and we rotated turns in the Queen’s cape and crown so everyone had a chance to have that special photo in case they won.” Just recently though, the pictures’ location changed back and forth between Mayor’s Park and Blain Park and now, families have been involved too whereas it used to just be the girls and their escorts.

Another big change over the years that was altered twice was the Homecoming parade. In Bardonnex and Garcia’s years, students drove vehicles, trucks with tall floats and displays, and more around the football field on the track in between the JV game and Varsity as well as at halftime of the Varsity game. This was changed right after Garcia’s year as the new track in the Mineral King Bowl was set down in 1990 and permitted vehicles forcing the parade to move outside the Bowl. 

After this, the parade was mainly just on foot but 3 years ago, as most of us know the parade to be, cars were reintroduced into the parade by Mrs. Aguilar. This year, Redwood administration made the decision along with Visalia Police Department to return back to foot parade or as Barba Tepper said, “any vehicle that you don’t need a DMV license for.” This would include golf carts, Gators, bikes, skateboards, scooters.

The day is usually spent out on the Vista campus with music blasting and the smell of hot dogs cooking on the grill while students (released from class all day) prepare their club floats. In hopes of better time management, students only had 4th, lunch and 5th through 6th period to work on their floats this year only. It came as a shock and bummer for some students but was successful and the floats still turned out great. For the past 13 years at least, Mr. Sozinho and Mr. Lor prepare hot dogs for the “hard working students during float preparation,” says Sozinho but this tradition was going on years before he took it up. 

Another minor detail was the fact that up until this year, football players weren’t able to be escorts to nominees at all in order to ensure their focus on the big game. This was a decision every head coach decided on and this year, first year head coach,  Kevin Scharton allowed his players to be escorts. Julian Sanchez was able to participate with Top 5 candidate, Mya Ables, in the week’s activities and take pictures during Homecoming day. When the night came, he didn’t have time for the usual Top 5 dinner with the principal and did not get to sit with Ables since he was a part of the game but he was able to hold the box for her during the halftime crowning while wearing his uniform.

The reveal of Homecoming Queen is usually different for every school but was actually changed since the 80s here at Redwood. Bardonnex said she was crowned in front of her school right before the parade. She along with the other “queenies” hopped in their cars after the 20 minute whole school assembly in the LJ Williams Theater and boosted the excitement and spirit going into the football game. Garcia remembers there being a balloon reveal during halftime her senior year which is what Redwood has been doing since.

After home football games, Garcia also mentioned there being dances to bring more energy and getting kids involved at Redwood. She remembers these being very casual right after the games but this tradition fell away as it became many late nights and students leaving the game early to go to the dance or leaving the dance to go to the game. It began to get hard to keep crowd control of two places at once.

This is just a small glance at just the past few decades here at Redwood but of course like all things, change is inevitable and who knows where these past traditions along with the ones we have now are going to change into!