Homecoming parade

by Kelliann Blackburn
| October 8, 2009 11:00 PM

As the 2009 Home-coming parade entries gathered in the Whitefish High School parking lot last Friday, the atmosphere was exhilarating and capped a week of activities that celebrated a phenomenal student body, staff, and community.

When principal Dave Carlson approached me about the possibility of resurrecting the Homecoming parade three weeks ago, I was ecstatic yet somewhat pessimistic that such a daunting task could be accomplished in such a short time.

My fears were quickly put to rest, however, by the undoubting support of others who all shared the same dream — having the Homecoming parade return to our community as a celebration of our youths and our high school.

I have to admit that I got a little teary-eyed as the parade line-up began and the community and school united to celebrate the Bulldogs. The green and gold was everywhere, and the energy was so contagious.

Then, as the students returned to the high school after the parade, one student looked at me and said, "I felt like a celebrity, Ms. Blackburn. There were so many people cheering for us."

This student couldn't have been more right, and the cheering started three weeks ago as plans to revive the parade tradition began. This was truly a community effort, and there are so many people to thank, including the city of Whitefish, the Whitefish police and fire departments, Jeannie Sattler and PTA, Dave Carlson, Pat Audet, Jackie Fuller, Michelle Kuntz and CARE, Dennis and Kelly Haverlandt, the high school custodial staff, Ross Strauser and WhitefishRadio.com, the high school teachers, and all the amazing entries in the parade lineup.

I'd like to thank most of all, though, the students at Whitefish High School. You all represented yourselves well by showing class, courtesy and respect all week long, and I've never been more proud to be a part of your school and community. School spirit resounded in the halls, and I felt a renewal of school pride in our hallways.

Thank you for being so amazing and for reminding every day why I love my job. Long live the Homecoming parade.

Kelliann Blackburn is a teacher at Whitefish High School.