Schools
'Wild' Floats at Parkland High School's Homecoming
Parkland High School beats Freedom, 41 to 7, and the Performing Arts & Music Club wins first-place float for 'Jungle Book-Moguli goes to the LV Zoo.'
The 2012 Parkland High School Homecoming celebration took students and spectators "Into the Wild" as they celebrated another year of festivities. All proceeds from Homecoming events benefit the Lehigh Valley Zoo.
Michelle Gannon, a biology teacher who has been at Parkland for 18 years, said all floats related to the Homecoming theme "Into the Wild." This is Gannon's 12th year as Student Council adviser and she's been involved with the annual Garter Bowl and other Homecoming activities since she began teaching.
"Each year we try to make it a little bit bigger and a little bit better," Gannon said. "The parents are also very involved - we make sure that there's a parent at each of the floats to chaperone."
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On Friday evening, five judges picked the winners of the Homecoming floats. The Performing Arts & Music Club won first place overall for "Jungle Book - Moguli goes to the Lehigh Valley Zoo."
Second place overall went to PALS Club for "Curious George Finds a PAL." Parkland Cheerleaders won third place overall for "Six Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed."
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This year, Parkland High School's new principal, Jim Moniz, was asked to help judge, although Gannon said typically no one from the high school is asked to judge in order to avoid favoritism.
Other judges included Parkland Superintendent Richard Sniscak, Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman, School Board President Jayne Bartlett and Tracy Smith, who is a technology administrator.
Gannon said Homecoming at Parkland High is a weeklong event with various activities. There was also a Homecoming shirt based on "Where the Wild Things Are" and the Homecoming dance is themed "Jungle Love."
Ironton Livery transported the Homecoming Court along the parade route in one of its surreys. The students in this year's court are Jarel Elder, Nolan Hay, Shaun Heist, Luke Klecan, Matt Kleinhenz, Adam Schneck, Paul Tajiri, Samantha Chubenko, Allison Cressman, Sarah Dougherty, Kiera Kaunas, Montana Leaks, Lizzy Mirth and Hannah Starner.
The Homecoming King and Queen will be announced during Saturday's dance.