The streets of Cleveland were overflowing with Clipper pride on Friday afternoon as the homecoming parade strutted through.
The orange and black deluge, which began on Sixth Street in front of the school before turning left on Broadway towards downtown, was led by the seventh and eighth grade band playing the Clipper fight song.
Next in the procession came ranks of elementary students, many bearing homecoming signs. They were followed by homecoming royalty and class floats, all with a movie theme.
Before the parade, students rallied at pep fests in the new gym. During the elementary pep fest in the morning, each class performed a cheer. Afterwards, the third through sixth grades competed in tug o’ wars.
In the afternoon pep fest, which the entire school attended, teacher Brady Hahn introduced the sports teams: tennis, cross country, volleyball and football. The pep band opened and closed the rally with the school song.
Both pep fests featured a pizza box derby for staff. In the competition, the players carry a pizza box, waiter style, and the goal is to knock off everyone’s pizza box to be the last person standing.
The Clipper spirit carried over to the football game, where Cleveland beat St. James Area 28-15.
Above: Homecoming king and queen Mason Kluntz and Vivian Hilfer with the second grade prince and princess perform their parade waves.
Students could fulfill their Clipper swag needs at the Elementary Student Council boutique, which was set up just inside the school’s main entrance. Business was brisk on Friday morning.
“Deck the halls in orange & black…” Each high school class decorated a section of hallway.
The sophomore’s hallway was based on their parade entry: the movie “Up.”
The junior’s hallway was based on their parade entry: the movie “Jaws.”
Decorated lockers
Braeden Smith sported homecoming shades.
Courtney Theis and some of her first graders at the elementary pep fest.
The Elementary Student Council organized the pep fest. With the students is advisor Shanna Roloff.
Members of the Elementary Student Council flash their winning smiles.
Administrative assistant Allison Stoffel wore iced out orange shades for the occasion.
Brady Hahn led the sixth-grade cheer.
The fifth graders spelled out “Clippers” during their cheer.
Fourth grade cheer
Fourth grade cheer
Third grade boys line up for their cheer.
Third graders line up for their cheer.
Second graders gather for their cheer.
Kindergarten cheer
Third graders in a tug o’ war.
Third graders in a tug o’ war
Fourth graders in a tug o’ war.
Fourth graders in a tug o’ war.
Fifth graders in a tug o’ war
Fifth graders in a tug o’ war
Sixth graders in a tug o’ war.
Sixth graders in a tug o’ war.
Sixth graders in a tug o’ war.
The pep band played the school song at the start and end of the all-school pep fest.
Head coach Casey Olson with the cross country runners.
Assistant coach April Thompson with the varsity volleyball team.
Football captains Mason Kluntz, David Draheim, Caleb Possin and Bode Bartell.
Casey Olson was the pizza box derby champion at the all-school pep fest.
Coronation emcees Gavin Karels and Samantha Baker
Homecoming royalty Martavis Williams (in the car) and Dacota Lotspeich
Homecoming royalty Carter Kern and Anna Kawatski-Klein
Homecoming royalty Elijah Mons and Mollie Bowman
Elementary students with their sign
Elementary students with their sign
Elementary students with their sign
Elementary students with their sign
Elementary students with their sign
Elementary students with their sign
Elementary students with their sign
Carrying these CHS letters in the parade has become a tradition for fourth graders.
Elementary students with their sign
Elementary student with her sign
The junior high marching band led the parade.
The junior high marching band
Junior high marching band
As most seventh and eighth graders were in the marching band, the remainder fit in the back of a pickup truck.
The senior float was a haunted hayride and had overtones of the “Halloween” series.
David Draheim, Caleb Possin and Bode Bartell in the senior entry.
The sophomore float was based on the Disney movie “Up.”
Sophomores on the truck pulling their entry: Kayla Hoffmann, Jocelyn Kortuem, Ava Kluntz, Jax Leagjeld, Kiya Sohn, Aubrey Blaschko and Cecelia Gair.
Sophomores. With the balloon is Garrett Heldberg.
Warning shark sighted. The junior float’s movie theme was “Jaws.”
Juniors on the truck pulling their entry: Delaney Thompson, Kaitlyn Flowers, Keira Schipper, Amelia Chmiel, Taylor McCabe, Maile Meissner and Anna Lamont. Note the shark out front.
Complete with a couple tyrannosaurus rex, the ninth graders float had a “Jurassic Park” theme.
Freshmen Paisley Janssen, Sierra Lotspeich, Harper Rutz, Mattea Grandaw, Allie Anderson, Amelia Baker and Clara Hilfer.