A Picture Perfect Homecoming Weekend in Garden City

Homecoming King and Queen Patrick Reeves and Erin Brennan.

Last Friday afternoon's pep rally at Garden City High School kicked off Homecoming Weekend in style with a glo-rious rendition of the national anthem sung by Jennifer Yoo. Students filled the bleachers in the High School gym wearing colorful shirts representing their teams, including the field hockey team decked out in tie dyed pink shirts and the girls' soccer team sporting green on black shirts.

On the floor, team captains encouraged their classmates to turn out for games, the Trojan mascot (a.k.a. Joe Collins) provided incentive, and the assembly roared as Aaron Aniton and Connor Horyl break danced across the gym floor. Teachers Carlo Rebolini and Mike Heed-les drew a deafening round of applause for how they spent their summer vacation: riding their bicycles 386 miles across the Rocky Mountains to raise funds for The Miracle Foundation and The Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation. Finally, Student Council Officers Caro-lyn Cutrone, Jaclyn D'Aversa, and James Crafa crowned the 2007-2008 Homecoming King and Queen, Patrick Reeves and Erin Brennan.

Jennifer Yoo signing the Star Spangled Banner at the pep rally on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday afternoon, Grand Marshal Frank Kiernan, Sc.D, led a cavalcade of floats and marchers up Seventh Street, including members of the classes of 1940,1957, 1967, 1971, 1977, and 1987, as the Marching Band played themes from the movie Superman and the Color Guard unfurled their red, yellow, and blue flags. A lifetime director of the Garden City Men's Association, Dr. Kiernan is currently liaison to the High School field hockey and baseball teams. The Frank Kiernan Award has been presented to the school's most valuable baseball player every year since 1966. Dr. Kiernan also is the moving force behind the baseball team's annual southern baseball trip, and an annual award for the most dedicated and improved field hockey player is named for him.

At 2 p.m., the Garden City High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble opened the festivities at Warren King Field, and the Trojans met the Mepham Pirates. The Trojans triumphed, winning the game 37 to 0 after a halftime show featuring the Garden City High School Kickline, Cheerleaders, Color Guard, and Marching Band conducted by drum majors Jennifer Yoo and Alyssa Olivo. The halftime show concluded with the introduction of the Homecoming King and Queen presented by Trojan Club Vice-President and Student Council Member Anne-Carine Frederique.

English Teacher Carlo Rebolini and Physical Education Teacher Mike Heedles make a pass around the gym on their bicycles.

Weekend festivities could be heard thanks to the "sound ladies" (a.k.a. Elizabeth DeBold and Alison Heuser), along with Brian Plaut, from The Studio supervised by Audio/Visual Specialist Larry Blass.

For a change of pace on the way to and from the game, visitors could linger at an art exhibit in the High School hall-way featuring the work of students in the classes of Alison Blanc, Claire Ellerman, Jason Karp, George Lucas, Loreen McMahon, Shawn Uttendorfer, Diane Veitch, and Michele White.

The Trojan Mascot, brought to life by Joe Collins, with High School Principal Frank Banta. The percussion section of the Marching Band moments before the parade stepped off. Members of the Spanish Club decked out in sombreros in front of their float, decorated with fiesta balloons and ban-ners. Members of the Junior Firefighter Club. Members of Twigs marching in support of Winthrop University Hospital. Members of the Miracle Club take a break from decorating their float. Supporters of the Andy Foundation proceed down Seventh Street. Cheerleaders in a favorite formation. The Kickline in a traditional maneuver. School Superintendent Robert Feirsen, left, School Board Vice-President Colleen E. Foley, School Board President Kenneth J. Monaghan, and other members of the Garden City Schools Administra-tion and School Board marched at the head of the parade. The Color Guard approaching the High School. Garden City players take the field. The Kickline performs a creative interpretation of the wave. The Marching Band steps down Oxford Boulevard on the way to the High School. The Kickline in a traditional maneuver. The line of scrimmage.