S4 E3 - Homecoming Festivities Ft. FFA, Student Council, and the Parade Marshal

Homecoming is an eagerly anticipated event in the OSD community, and this year promises a week filled with exciting activities. Both staff and students at Oregon High School play a vital role in ensuring a memorable experience for everyone. Join us today as we speak with a few of this year’s event organizers and get the inside scoop on what is planned for next week.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER1: Homecoming is an eagerly anticipated event in the OSD community, and this year promises a week filled with exciting activities. (00:06):
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Both staff and students at Oregon High School play a vital role in ensuring a memorable experience for everyone.
Join us today as we speak with a few of this year's event organizers, and get the inside scoop on what is planned for next week.

SPEAKER2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids. (00:31):
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Here is your host, lifelong educator, and our superintendent, Doctor Leslie Bergstrom.

SPEAKER1: I'd like to start by doing some introductions for our listeners. (00:45):
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SPEAKER3: Um, I'm Geneva Gasner, I'm a sophomore, and I'm part of the FFA. (00:49):
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SPEAKER1: Thank you. (00:53):
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SPEAKER4: I'm Miranda Mortensen. I am a senior and I am part of the FFA. (00:54):
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Thanks. My name is Caroline Canney. I'm a senior and I'm the vice president of student council.

SPEAKER5: Thank you. And I'm Olivia Olson. I'm a senior, and I'm the president of student council. (01:02):
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SPEAKER6: Hi. And I'm Mrs. Dunn. I'm an administrative assistant here at the high school where I support the main office, (01:07):
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our principals and students in the student service office.
And I'm also excited to be back as the parade coordinator.

SPEAKER1: That is exciting! I'm glad that you're doing that. (01:21):
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So let's dig into some of these details, okay?
So we'll start by going to our students.
And we'll start over here with our students from FFA.
Give us a rundown of what you've been planning and how it's going.

SPEAKER4: We have been planning a food drive for the community. (01:37):
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So we are getting the whole community together, including all the elementary schools,
the middle school, the intermediate school and the high school. And we're also going to have three drop out--drop off sites throughout the community at both
fire departments --the Brooklyn, the Oregon one, and then the library.

SPEAKER1: Wow! All right, so what tasks are each of you doing with this and how do you fit it all into this really busy schedule next week? (01:58):
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SPEAKER3: Um, I have a lot of, like, connections with the food pantry, so I've been helping, like, coordinate, (02:06):
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um, like, different things that we need from the food pantry in order to make this successful and then just helping everyone out.

SPEAKER1: Thank you. (02:17):
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SPEAKER4: Um, I've been in charge of--I made all the phone calls to the places in the community to see who would take drop off boxes. (02:18):
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SPEAKER7: Oh, wow. (02:24):
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SPEAKER4: Over the summer. So we got that all done, and now we're just collecting boxes so we can put them out in the community now. (02:25):
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SPEAKER1: Oh, it has to help so much that you started this summer. (02:31):
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SPEAKER7: Yeah. (02:34):
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SPEAKER1: That's great. That's less pressure on you right now because so many of the logistics have been planned. (02:34):
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So what are you most excited about for homecoming next week overall?

SPEAKER4: Seeing the community show up. (02:44):
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SPEAKER7: Yeah. (02:46):
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SPEAKER3: I think just being able to know that we're helping the community in a positive way. (02:47):
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SPEAKER1: Well, I love both of your answers. And what have you learned from this planning experience? (02:51):
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And then what skills do you think you'll take with you in your future after having done this?

SPEAKER4: Um, a lot of people aren't the nicest over phone calls, and it was really hard to just get through to people because some of them just (03:03):
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didn't really want to listen to everything.
But some were like, really nice and like, "yeah, let's just do it."

SPEAKER1: All right. So it took some perseverance, basically. (03:18):
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Okay.

SPEAKER3: Um, I think just realizing, like how many people this whole thing takes and how many people you have to reach out to and plan with and organize with. (03:22):
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And just like the communication skill, getting to get comfortable with, like a lot of communication with different people.

SPEAKER1: Absolutely. And you pointed out something that's really important. (03:35):
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And that is so many people in the community have a part in this and take part in enjoying this,
right? So that's one of the exciting things about it.
Um, I will turn to our student council reps.
And can you tell us a little bit of the rundown of what you've been planning and how it's been going?

SPEAKER5: Yeah. So our plans consist of creating committees. (03:56):
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So we have a committee for powderpuff, which is the boys volleyball games that are hosted the Wednesday of the upcoming week.
Um, we have the tickets committee. They sell all the tickets because we're in charge of the dance, which is obviously really exciting.
Um, we also play in the pep rally, which is a big part of it.
The entire pep rally. We do, um, we partner with the FFA for the food drive and helping them with whatever,

(04:20):
um, wherever they need us. Um, and we also plan the Connections lessons for, um,
the whole school, which is also exciting and just advertising.

SPEAKER8: Oh my goodness, that is--that's a lot! Yeah, that's a big, long list. (04:29):
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SPEAKER1: So for each of you, what tasks are you involved in directly with the planning and how do you fit it all in? (04:33):
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SPEAKER5: Yes. So, um, back in May, we vote on the theme for the homecoming dance as a student council. (04:40):
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And then the executive team, which is Caroline and I and two other members.
We all get together in August to make the committees.
So we put some leaders and we figure out who would work best with each other to work on each committee.
And then from there, we just have had weekly meetings, and it's a great way for us to keep each other organized.

(05:04):
And it takes a lot of work with administration and our advisors--our advisors, and also the community members.

SPEAKER1: And similar to FFA, you started early. Yeah. (05:11):
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And that makes a big difference. Yes. How about you?

SPEAKER9: Um, yeah. So I we've each every member of the exact team has kind of been in charge of two committees. (05:17):
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Um, you know, I was put in charge of the tickets and Connections committee. So really just overseeing those.
And luckily, we have a lot of members of student councils who have been super helpful in helping us plan this all.
So even though we do have lots of things we need to get done, we also have a lot of support,
which is great.

SPEAKER1: Oh, I appreciate all the leadership that you have spread throughout so that it's, (05:36):
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you know, no one person has to carry the whole thing, right?
That's really exciting. So what are you excited about for next week?

SPEAKER9: Um, I'm definitely really just excited to see all the things we've been planning come together and actually come to fruition. Because yeah, we've been planning (05:50):
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it for at this point, like a little over a month. So it'll be really cool. I mean, also just getting involved as a senior just because it's our last, it's,
you know, my last year. And so, you know, I know a lot more about all the things happening too,
just because I'm a senior and I've been in charge of all the planning. So just really getting involved and soaking it all in because, you know, this is really

(06:13):
like the last time that I'll have an experience like this. And, I mean, I don't know if there's really anything else like a high school
homecoming, especially in Oregon, because we do really take it pretty seriously here.

SPEAKER1: You do it well. You do it well. Were you surprised at how much work actually goes into pulling off all of these events? (06:21):
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SPEAKER9: Um, I mean, not super surprised just because we have had experience, you know, helping out with homecoming in the past. (06:28):
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Um, but it has, you know, it's definitely a lot of work.
And it's definitely, you know, definitely--I've appreciated all the work in the past,
um, that, like, past presidents have put into making homecoming a success.

SPEAKER1: Terrific. So, um, how about you, Olivia? (06:45):
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What are you most excited about?

SPEAKER5: I mean, same as Caroline said. And we're also emceeing the pep rally. (06:49):
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SPEAKER1: Oh, you are! Exciting. Oh, so you're both going to have a microphone in front of a thousand plus people? (06:53):
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SPEAKER5: Yes. Yeah, I'm really excited about that. (07:00):
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That is exciting. Yeah. The exec team, we're like a really close group.
So it's just exciting that we're all getting to do that together and experience our last homecoming together.

SPEAKER1: Oh, that's really nice. So what have you both learned from planning these experience--experiences and then what specific skills do you think you're going (07:10):
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to take forward into your future based off of that?

SPEAKER9: Yeah, I mean, just like I really learned like the importance of clear communication. So everybody's on the same page because I mean, kind of like how (07:21):
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our FFA members touched on, um, there are a lot of like, moving parts and all of this and a lot of people involved in making homecoming
success. So just really clearly communicating and making sure everybody making sure everybody's on the same loop.
And then also just the importance of time management, um, to really make sure that everything gets done when it needs to be done.

SPEAKER1: Okay. Those are important things to carry forward. (07:45):
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So that's great. How about you?

SPEAKER5: I agree with that. And I think the importance of also like living in the moment. And just like, it's a lot to take in, like it's a lot to do of course, but also (07:49):
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just making sure, like it's such an opportunity for us to be able to run student council so.

SPEAKER1: Well and the opportunity to enjoy it. Right? (08:00):
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Like, I hope that you both really are able to live in the moment next week when all of these things are happening and soak it all up,
because this is your last homecoming at Oregon High School.

SPEAKER5: Yeah. (08:13):
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SPEAKER1: Yeah. So one of the significant events that draws residents from around the entire community, (08:14):
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it's really fun to see is the homecoming parade.
And we're really fortunate to have this year's parade marshal slash coordinator with us today.
So, Miss Dunn, can you share with our listeners what they can expect during this year's parade?

SPEAKER6: Sure. So, um, right now, the biggest change to this year's homecoming parade is really our new route. (08:35):
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Um, this route needed to happen, um, due to the adjustments and ongoing construction on Oak Street.
Right. Um, so we will be sharing an updated map with our families, schools, communities,
so everybody knows the best spots, really to watch the parade, because this is such a great big event where we bring a lot of people into town.

(09:02):
Yes. Beyond that change, the parade really is a super fun tradition here at Oregon High School,
and it really celebrates our schools and our community spirit.
Um, and it's a super special time. And as everybody just said around the table, um,
it's a super fun time here. And it's a great way to see how it all comes together.

(09:23):
And the parade is is a great way to bring everyone here in town together.

SPEAKER1: It is! When I first came to Oregon, well over 20 years ago now, I was absolutely astounded by the homecoming parade experience and all of the (09:27):
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community members who put their chairs up early and are there to support and cheer and wave.
And it was it's really something. So I know that coordinating this is a huge undertaking.

(09:49):
So why is it important for you to serve in this role?
Um, above and beyond all the other things you already do as part of your job?

SPEAKER6: So the parade itself really is a lot of logistics. (09:57):
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And our biggest priority is the safety. But really beyond that is creating this magical kind of moment for our students,
our staff, the family, the entire community and all coming together.
So I really think that's one of the most special things about the parade itself.

(10:18):
For me, it's self serving. As, um, the parade coordinator also brings me a lot of pride.
I'm an Oregon grad. I've seen a lot of parades, so it really is a special time.
Yes, it's a lot to coordinate working with all the schools.
Um, thinking about the bussing, uh, working with our community and bringing everybody together.

(10:40):
But honestly, seeing everybody's smiles, the cheering really makes it all worthwhile.
So yes, it's a lot of work, but it is a super great fun day.
And yeah, it's very exciting. So go Panthers!

SPEAKER1: Absolutely. You know, it's like everything else in education. (10:52):
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Yes, it's a lot of work but it's so worth it.
Yes, yes. So as we wrap up, um, what else do you want to make sure to let our students,
our families and our community know about homecoming next week and what they can do to help make it a success,
and I'll open that up to any of you.

SPEAKER9: I mean, just that, you know, just going to be a great, great time for everybody involved. (11:13):
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Um, and just, you know, really make sure that if you can involve yourself to do that because,
you know, I again, like I said, I don't really think there's anything else like a homecoming.
So yeah.

SPEAKER1: I agree with you on that. (11:27):
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SPEAKER3: Um, yeah. Kind of what she said. Like, um, the homecoming is just a great way to even if you're not like in school, (11:29):
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just to involve yourself with the community. Like, there's a lot of opportunities that you can do to help out the community.
And I think it's a really great way.

SPEAKER1: Thanks for that reminder, I agree. Homecoming week is next week, September 29th through October 4th. (11:42):
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Our community is invited to join us on Friday, October 3rd for the Homecoming Parade,
which begins at 1:30 p.m. and for the homecoming game, where the Panthers take on Monona Grove at 7 p.m.

(12:03):
in Panther Stadium. Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website at
OregonSD.org/podcast. You can find this podcast anywhere you can find podcasts.
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We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD, where it's all about the kids.