The Marion High School Homecoming celebration is less than a month away, and we are excited to welcome home alumni, showcase school spirit, and celebrate the pride and energy of our school community.
The Homecoming game will be played on Friday, Oct. 17, against Jonesboro. The game will culminate a week of activities at the school, including our annual Homecoming parade and the coronation of our Homecoming Court.
The selection process for the Homecoming Court has been updated this year in a move designed to increase student participation in the process and ensure that every student has a meaningful opportunity to be recognized. In previous years, student engagement has lagged, with many girls opting not to put their name forward and less than a third of each class participating in the vote. On at least one occasion, a Homecoming queen was selected with only 12 votes.
“Being chosen for Homecoming Court is one of the highest honors for our students, and the process should reflect the prestige and significance of that distinction,” said Dr. Mike Skelton, MHS principal. “We’ve spent the past year brainstorming ways to get more students involved and create a more fulfilling experience for the whole school. We looked at how other schools select their Homecoming courts and incorporated the best practices we discovered. Our updated process will give students a stronger voice and ensure that our Homecoming Court truly reflects the pride and spirit of the Marion community.”
Skelton also noted that the new process is aligned with the district’s student handbook, which states:
“In order for a student to be eligible for the homecoming court, she must meet the following standards: cumulative 3.0 GPA or IEP requirements, participation in at least one school sponsored activity, and no OSS for the previous semester or current year. The student must complete an application in order to be considered for nomination. The homecoming election process will be determined by the principal and his/her designees.”
Here’s how the updated selection process is working:
1. MHS faculty and staff were asked to select young women in grades 10-12 who they feel have earned the opportunity to represent the Marion School District as members of the Homecoming Court. Every girl who met the following criteria (listed in the Student Handbook) was considered:
Cumulative 3.0 GPA or IEP requirements
Participation in at least one school sponsored activity
No OSS for the previous semester or current year
2. A list of students for each grade (10-12) who met the criterion above was provided to all members of the MHS faculty and staff, who were asked to vote for their choices. The top 10 young women from each grade were then selected to serve as our official Homecoming Court Nominees.
3. Each Nominee developed a list of their qualifications and accomplishments. These profiles were compiled and shared online for the school community to review.
4. All MHS students are able to review the Nominee profiles and then vote for their selections. The results of this vote will be used to determine the Homecoming Court and the Homecoming Queen, who will all be recognized during Homecoming Week.
“We are committed to ensuring Homecoming remains a meaningful and memorable experience for our students, alumni, and the entire Marion community,” Skelton said. “We are excited to celebrate this tradition and to honor the outstanding students who will represent MHS on this year’s Homecoming Court!”