The Hewlett-Woodmere Public School district is preparing for a week filled with excitement, pep rallies, and school spirit, all building towards the Bulldogs’ annual Homecoming football game.
Homecoming football games are a staple of high schools across the country, bringing alumni, families, and community members back to celebrate alongside current students.
“I think it’s just a great opportunity for the people in the community to come together,” David Viegas, the director of health, physical education and athletics at Hewlett-Woodmere said. “A lot of times the schools are the focal point of the community, so I think it is a great opportunity for our community at Hewlett-Woodmere to come together and be united in a cause, which is rooting for the bulldogs.”
This year, the Hewlett High School Varsity Football team will be playing the game against Valley Stream North High School at Hewlett High School at 1:00 p.m. on Sept. 20.
The game will follow a community wide parade, which will feature the Hewlett High School Marching Band, other sports teams, banners representing each of the grade levels in the high school and local organizations.
The parade kicks off at noon on Sept. 20, led by grand marshal Lorraine Smyth, the district’s new assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership development. Smyth, who began the role on June 27, had served as principal of Franklin Early Childhood Center since 2013.
For the community, Homecoming has grown into more than just a football game, but Head Coach John Palladino reminds his players to treat it as exactly that, another game, and block out the outside noise.
“For us as players and coaches there really is no difference,” Palladino said. “Our saying, is the most important game is the next game, so we try to block out the noise, that’s been our theme for the week, enjoy it when you’re in school, be a part of all the festivities and the student activities, but then once the bell rings and we go to practice, we have to get refocused.”
In the days leading up to the game, high school students take part in Spirit Week, dressing up each day to show off their school pride. Pep rallies will take place in every school across the district, with football players and cheerleaders making the rounds to build excitement and school spirit ahead of the big game.
“It’s just a great day,” Viegas said. “Then for the alumni to come back, I think it is great for the people that either recently graduated or graduated a long time ago to come back and reconnect as well. It’s about reconnecting and recreating those lifelong relationships.”
