Fall Homecoming 2016 put the ‘Bruins in the Spotlight’ with a variety of events during the week starting on Oct. 3 and ending on Oct. 7 with a crowning and a football game.

There was several dress days where students would receive participation points and lunch time activities each day during lunch time in the quad. The leadership class was extremely busy organizing and trying to get students filled with school spirit and pride.

Leadership Advisor Gina Tonarelli had a full week planning and organizing the events alongside the leadership class which was in charge of all the lunch time activities, the fashion show, the powder puff game, the rally, the parade and counting all the votes for the homecoming royalty.

“I think overall homecoming went well,” said Tonarelli. “The class did a great job planning the activities and were pretty well organized with the execution of their events. The kids were very patient and did their best to try to make all events fun for the school as well as tried very hard to get everyone involved. I am very proud of them.”

Part of Homecoming Week traditionally includes a girl’s Powder Puff flag football game, in Riverbank the contest pitting the freshman and senior classes against a team made up of sophomores and juniors. This year’s contest was hosted on Wednesday night, Oct. 5 at Angelo Novi Field.

With the senior/frosh team designated the home team, the game ended the first quarter in a scoreless tie. The home team got on the board with a touchdown from Lily Gallagher and a two-point conversion, which left the score 8-0 with 58 seconds left in the half. The junior/soph team answered with their own combo of TD and conversion to tie the game at 8, where the score remained for the rest of the evening.

The last day of the Homecoming celebration included a rally to get all the students excited about their school, a parade and the football game.

The Riverbank Police Services led the parade, Stanislaus Consolidated Fire followed along with Riverbank High School principal Dr. Sean Richey, who was selected as Grand Marshal.

“It was a tremendous honor,” stated Richey. “I was very surprised the students chose me. They didn’t have to. It was a great experience to lead our students in our Homecoming parade.”

The band performed for spectators during the parade along with the flags and the cheerleaders cheered everyone on.

“The parade was great,” added Richey. “In fact, it was one of the best I’ve attended. The band sounded amazing and the cheerleaders were very enthusiastic. The students were very creative in their float decorations.”

With duties from advertising, organizing to planning and meeting deadlines the leadership class pulled off another successful fall homecoming event.

“Our students had a great week dressing up for the themes each day, participating in the rally, and taking part in the float decorating,” expressed Richey. “Our students were very engaged.  Our leadership class and our Activities Director, Ms. Tonarelli, deserve special recognition for all that they did. This was a great Homecoming week.”