Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
CC/E Elementary holds resurrected Homecoming celebration for second-straight year
Preschool attendants John Holst and Jayde Boyles joined 2016 CC/E Homecoming Queen Jasmine Kluender on a float during the parade.
The Sioux Central marching band performed during the parade in downtown Royal.
Parade grand marshal Shirley Fredericks waves to the crowd from her convertible.
Preschool students line the sidewalk prior to the parade.
Elementary students get rowdy during the pep rally on Sept. 28.
CC/E Director of Student Services Michelle Huntress faces a staunch defense during the student/staff kickball game on Friday afternoon.
CC/E alumni and former cheer captains Allison Goyette and Marlana Tewes hosted a cheer camp for elementary students last week.
First grade students performed a scarf dance during the CC/E Homecoming pep rally last Thursday.
Preschoolers sing a song during the pep rally in Royal last Thursday.
They may be small in size, but that didn't stop Clay Central/Everly Elementary students from putting on a mighty display of school spirit last week.
The Mavericks marked Homecoming with a parade, dress up days, pep rally and other events Sept. 25-29. It was the second-straight year the elementary-only district celebrated the event, which was shelved in 2019 when the district ceased offering grades 7-12 due to low enrollment.
Like last year, CC/E Outreach & Culture Coordinator Iesha Toft led organizing efforts for the event. She was thrilled with the community's support and believed Maverick pride is still powerful throughout the district.
"We had ecstatic children that could feel the love, school spirit and support from it all," she said. "We were undoubtedly blessed last week with every single thing."
Thursday's parade in downtown Royal highlighted the schedule. Local businesses and other organizations comprised the lineup, as did entries from neighboring school districts that have absorbed CC/E's 7-12 grade students following the closure of the junior high and high school building.
Sioux Central even brought its entire marching band, cheerleading squad and Homecoming court to the parade, which brought Toft to tears.
"To us it was reliving something from our past that we lost with our middle school and high school closure and something that we are so desperately trying to save now," she said. "They brought so much joy to our community, alumni, staff, and most importantly to our
students that may have never before seen a marching band or parade quite like that. It was powerful and extremely moving."
Things shifted to the gym for the pep rally following the parade, where students and community members listened to special speakers, performed cheers and sang the Maverick Pride Song. On Friday, students squared off against staff members during a kickball game, which was won by the youngsters 22-10.
Toft was grateful to everyone who helped make Homecoming 2023 special. She said the annual event allows CC/E to "celebrate our wonderful present and work towards our bright future."
"We know that we are small – that is no secret. But that doesn't mean that we aren't offering the best educational experience that you could want for your child – we are," she said. "Allowing others and our students to see and feel our school spirit throughout Homecoming week is how we build on something that we know is so good."
