Bradley students 'light up the night' this homecoming season

by Alana Bridges

Editor-in-Chief

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

Hilliard Bradley homecoming week dress up days and dance information. Photo credit: Ms. Cote.

Homecoming is back and Bradley students are ready! After a rough 2020 school year, staff and administration have figured out a way to make homecoming 2021 possible. How you may ask? Bradley’s moving the dance outside! We will be holding this year's dance in the stadium. Students are going to play a part in lighting up the dance floor with a theme of neon glow!

Ms. Cote and Mr.Gerber are the administrators for the homecoming planning committee, which also consists of Bradley’s 2021-2022 class cabinet. After much discussion and many ideas for how to make this dance fun, the homecoming committee explained how it’s easier to decorate students with fun light up gear rather than a big stadium. This makes the theme of neon glow so cool for the circumstances. The homecoming committee also mentioned that they discussed the fun glow-in-the-dark items they were going to give out to students as they entered the stadium.

Many students were very excited about this idea. Katy Grainger (11) mentioned, “it’s cool because many never get to experience being under the stadium lights on the field and this gives them that opportunity.” While it is true that many who aren’t athletes never get to know this feeling, some just wish the dance was inside. Jada Van Steenvoort(11) said, “there’s just so much that could go wrong like the weather.” Jada makes a solid point since the committee did confirm there is no option to move the dance inside because of social distancing and safety measures.

When talking to Cote, she explained that “we are really lucky to have homecoming this year.” Last year, students missed out on this wonderful experience because of the mandates and number of cases within Ohio. We were limited to a movie night instead of a dance which many students were upset about because it wasn’t a traditional celebration. Some students really liked the idea because it allowed them to hang out with their friends in an open safe space. Gerber stated that, “no mask has to be worn because it is outside,” allowing you to hang out and light up the field with your friends.

The Jaguar jungle is ready! For many Bradley students this will be their first dance. COVID-19 has put a real stump in normal everyday life, and it’s time to celebrate a new school year and new adventures. Remember to buy your tickets before October 1st, and be ready to stand out and glow for the 2021 homecoming dance!