50th Homecoming to unite past and present

Johnston Sun Rise ·

Which undergrad will have the distinction and honor of being elected the 50th Homecoming Queen in Johnston High School’s traditional-rich history?

The same query has surfaced on Cherry Hill concerning the coronation of the annual Homecoming King as well, along with which class will out-do all others as far as the always-colorful Float Competition is concerned.

Homecoming 2017 figures to be unlike any of the previous 49 for a number of reasons, most notably that few high schools in Rhode Island can match the color, pageantry and organization that sets the annual JHS Homecoming a step above the norm and this year will feature many Homecoming Queens of yesteryear.

The build-up of spirit began with last week’s highly-successful Battle of the Classes, an on field total of 14 games for students only that generates so much enthusiasm and cheering it seemed as though the roars echoed throughout Northern Rhode Island.

This week is Spirit Week at JHS, during which everyone from students in all four classes as well as administrators and teachers come to school decked out in the day’s theme.

It began with Gold Day Monday, as a special salute to the 50th Anniversary of Homecoming since JHS was built at its current site.

Tuesday was World Culture Day, yesterday was Class Pattern Day, today is Western Day and tomorrow is Blue and White Day, replete with the annual Homecoming Rally that gets students pumped up for Saturday’s football game versus Westerly High’s always-tough Bulldogs.

Kick-off is 1:30 p.m. at Mayor Joseph M. Polisena Stadium. Mayor Polisena, a 1972 JHS grad and former Panther wrestler, will be on hand to help lead the annual Homecoming Parade.

But before the Panthers and Bulldogs battle inside the state-of-the-art stadium, the Homecoming Parade - which has often been rated the best of its kind anywhere in Rhode Island - will step off at 10 o’clock from the JHS parking lot and head down Atwood Avenue to the intersection of Hartford Avenue.

Greg Russo, the long-time JHS Student Council Faculty Advisor, who some way is in the running for the best costume of Spirit Week, announced that the parade will turn right onto Hartford Avenue before heading into Johnston War Memorial Park and traveling up Memorial Drive back to the school.

Russo said that once the parade is finished and the floats have been parked outside Polisena Stadium for judging and spectator viewing, people will head to the JHS Cafeteria for the annual Homecoming Alumni Breakfast that’s prepared and served by members of the Johnston Lions Club.

While the football game is always of the utmost importance, the excitement for the long-awaited announcement of which students have been elected Queen and King of Homecoming will keep building throughout the first half of the gridiron game with the official word coming during halftime.

“This is always special time for anyone and everyone connected with JHS and the town,” Russo said. “The Student Council has done an extraordinary job organizing all the events and including Homecoming. These events could not take place without the organizational skills of the SC officers.”

Russo complimented President Phil Jessop, Vice President Emily Raposo, Recording Secretary Isabella Nastasi, Corresponding Secretary Fragoso and Public Relations Correspondent Lauren Civetti for “a job extremely well done.”

Homecoming 2017 will be special for Civetti and her family, as her father Robert Civetti - a first-term Johnston Town Councilman - played on the multi-talented 1983 Tony Centore-coached football Panthers that just missed making a trip the Super Bowl via a hard-fought 14-8 loss to eventual state champion West Warwick.

“That was the Class A Super Bowl of the ‘83 season,” Robert Civetti said. “It was either us or West Warwick that would play in the Super Bowl against Hendricken.”

As far as Saturday’s Homecoming Game vs. Westerly is concerned, Civetti said, “Hey, we all bleed Columbia Blue and White for this game.”

The annual Royal Court Coronation will take place during halftime of Saturday’s football game that will feature an appearance by the well-dressed and award-winning Johnston High School Marching Panther Band under the direction of Music Director Ronald Lamoureaux.

The celebration, which brings many Johnstonians together for what some call a town-wide reunion, will conclude with Saturday night’s Homecoming Dance inside the school cafeteria.

There will even be a special announcement during that event, when Russo declares the winning class of last week’s Battle of the Classes and issues the challenge for all of the 2018 Homecoming events.