By Taryn Yee, Staff Writer
Homecoming is on! Concluding spirit week, the homecoming game will take place at Hughes Stadium on October 22. On October 23, ASB plans to host homecoming on campus at C.K. McClatchy High School from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The C.K. McClatchy Lions will be playing the River City Raiders. JV starts at 5:30 p.m. and Varsity starts at 7 p.m. Legion, the McClatchy student section, has decided that it is a white-out game. Students are encouraged to wear white and bring the ruckus! Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Attendees must show proof of vaccination or submit a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of the event. It is mandatory for all attendees to fill out the Google form prior to attending, which can be found on the McClatchy website, in the Nightly Roar email announcements, or linked in the official McClatchy Instagram account (@officialckmlion).
Contrary to the traditional homecoming dance, this outdoor event will include a silent disco, a live DJ, and food trucks. Tickets for both the dance and game will be sold starting October 7 at lunch and after school, and will be sold until October 21. At lunch, tickets will be sold at the student store, and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, afterschool tickets can be purchased at the auditorium ticket window.
Homecoming football game tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for McClatchy students and senior citizens (60+ years). Parents/guardians may attend the game but must show a valid ID and proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event.
Due to COVID concerns, all tickets must be purchased before both events. Tickets will not be sold at the door and students from other schools are not allowed to attend. Students must be prepared to present a valid student ID or Infinite Campus profile to purchase tickets and enter the facility.
Students, parents, and faculty members can get tested for COVID in McClatchy’s pool room, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This community resource is free and offers rapid tests, which produce same-day results. Register online or through the QR code posted outside of the testing site. The pool room can be accessed through the student parking lot, the blacktop by the back of the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms, or through the hallway by the Yoga room.
Tickets will have each individual’s name on it. The color of their ticket will indicate the vaccination status of the ticket holder. There will also be separate stadium entrances—one for those who are vaccinated and one for those who are not. Once inside the stadium, people can sit wherever they choose.
Masks are mandatory and standard protocol will be followed. At the dance, temperature checks will be conducted upon entrance, sanitizing stations will be provided throughout campus, and there will be a limited number of people allowed in each quad.
There will be four DJs at the silent disco, each playing a different genre of music. Students will wear headphones that light up with corresponding colors associated with each DJ, and are able to choose which set they would like to listen to.
In the lunch quad will be a more traditional dance, with a live DJ and dance floor. Aside from being outside and on campus, ASB advisor Ms. Christine Latino thinks that “it should be pretty much the same—kids dancing to music.”
Students must bring additional money if they want to purchase food from food trucks. Masks can be removed when eating, but must be put back on after finishing the meal. Social distancing and crowd control will be enforced.
This event will conclude this year’s homecoming week, which will include spirit days and the homecoming game. Due to the district’s COVID protocols, the parade and rally will not be part of the week’s festivities. “As of right now we are not allowed. We’re hoping that’ll change” said Latino.
Despite the restrictions, Latino hopes to host an event that will draw all students, both new and returning. “I’d like to build some trust first. I’d like people to see things changing in a positive direction, see how much we care,” she said.
ASB encourages students to participate in this year’s homecoming and asks that everyone experience it with an open mindset.
To stay updated on information regarding homecoming, look for announcements in the weekly Roar, McClatchy website, or official Instagram account (@officialckmlion). All information is subject to change.