High school has a lot in store for spirit week

It's time to paint the town not red, but blue and white.

Those out and about in downtown Geneva this afternoon will see Geneva High School students participating in long-standing GHS homecoming tradition, painting downtown store windows to match the homecoming theme and that of their particular organizations.

This year's theme evokes superheroes: "Vikings Save the World." The logo is highly reminiscent of Superman, with a "G" in place of the stylized "S."

"I think everyone is excited about homecoming week and the spirit days" and all the other activities, said Patrick Donovan, student council vice president in charge of activities. "It's a different kind of theme, and I think people like that."

About 25 downtown store owners, particularly along State Street, are providing glass canvases for the week, allowing the students -- from the spikers on the volleyball team, to golfers, to members of the French Club or Varsity Choir -- to put a personal and colorful stamp on store windows.

One change for this year, Donovan said, is the Merra-Lee windows now are reserved for the four classes and the student council. Previously, student organizations or sports teams might have been assigned to those windows, which are in a really prime location at Third and State. And who gets the one window that fronts onto State Street? Student council, of course. That organization, after all, is in charge of homecoming plans.

It's always fun to drive through town during homecoming week to see the students' artwork and see how the teens have incorporated the year's theme with crushing the upcoming opponent in the football game. (It's DeKalb High School this year.) "We have the vast majority of windows in downtown Geneva, from east of First Street all the way to past Fourth Street," Donovan said.

New this year is a window contest. First place earns that organization $250, while second place gets $100 and third place gets $50. And students will enjoy the services of professional window cleaners. That means that next Sunday, after a long week of fun and festivities, teens won't have to worry about un-painting those windows. Let's face it, it's always more fun to decorate than to clean and put away.

There's a lot more going on this week. Monday is "Pajama Day," with students wearing their favorite comfy clothes. Tuesday is "Hat Day," while Wednesday is "Class Color Day." Freshmen are to wear green; sophomores, yellow; juniors, red; and seniors, good-old Viking blue. Faculty members are to dress in black (hmm, are they supposed to represent villains? Bad guys usually wear black …). Girls who have them are to wear their powder puff shirts.

Girls will display their gridiron talents in the powder puff game, which begins at 7 p.m. at Burgess Field. The $2 entry fee benefits the Junior Class Prom Fund. Girls wearing their powder puff shirts get in free.

Powder puff football is always a popular activity. There are nearly always more girls who want to play than can be accommodated, and this year is no exception. "There were 115 or 120 senior girls who signed up," Donovan said. "Enrollment is always high. It's a fun activity."

On Thursday, superheroes will roam the halls. Freshmen are to dress as the Incredible Hulk, while sophomores will portray Batman. Juniors get to be Superman, while seniors will be dressed as Spider-Man. Faculty members are going to portray their favorite superheroes.

That evening, the PTO Barbecue begins at 6 p.m., followed by the pep rally at 8 p.m., both at Burgess Field. Rain locations are the cafeteria for the barbecue and the contest gym for the rally.

The homecoming pep rally is always a crowd-pleaser. In addition to the general pumping up of the crowd and presentation of the homecoming royalty, mock elections add a lot of fun to the proceedings. Seniors voted on these "winners" last week, selecting their choices for biggest mooch, coolest car, biggest flirt, best looking in a cape, biggest villain, most like Peter Parker and Mary Jane (remember, it's a superhero theme!), least school spirit, most school spirit, biggest overachiever, biggest class clown, best dancer, biggest drama king/queen and worst driver. (Does any parent really want their child to win "worst driver"?) The rally wraps up with a big bonfire.

Friday is "Blue and White Day," with students asked to put their Viking colors on display. The parade begins at 2 p.m., proceeding on McKinley Avenue, to Center Street, down Logan Avenue to Peyton Street. The parade then turns south onto Anderson Boulevard, proceeding to State Street through downtown Geneva to third Street, proceeding north on Third to Stevens Street.

The alumni cookout -- all GHS alums are invited -- begins at 5 p.m. on the grass next to the Burgess Field parking lot. Football games are at 5:15 and 7:30 p.m. Homecoming royalty will be presented and the class floats will circle the track.

The homecoming dance will be from 8 to 11 p.m. in the contest gym. Tickets will be sold at lunches from Wednesday to Friday. Student IDs are required.

Dance goers typically get a favor of some kind: a picture frame or small photo album, for example. This year, flash forward to the high-tech age; flash drives are the favored favor. With new computers able to accommodate the tiny drives, it seemed like a nice fit, Donovan said.

All in all, it's shaping up to be a super week.