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Coronation, parade and football game cap off homecoming week today

  • Keisha Cunnings dresses up as one-half of the music duo “Kris Kross” during Throwback Thursday at Charles City High School. (Press photo James Grob.)

  • Students ride the fire truck at the 2018 Charles City Homecoming Parade last year. (Press file photo James Grob.)

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Keisha Cunnings isn’t a student at Charles City High School, but she could have passed for one on Thursday.

That is, she could have passed for a student who wears all her clothes backward.

“I love getting involved,” said Cunnings, who works on CCHS’s administrative support team, and is also a dance coach. “It makes the kids feel more comfortable to get involved when they see the staff get involved.”

It was “Throwback Thursday” at CCHS, and students, teachers and staff have been encouraged all this week to participate in dress-up days. It’s part of the festivity of homecoming week, which comes to its conclusion today (Friday) with the homecoming court coronation at the end of the 2 p.m. pep rally, the parade down Main Street starting at 4:15 p.m., the football game and the dance tonight, among other things.

CCHS students did not paint store windows or otherwise decorate the downtown this year, as has been done in years past. Instead, students are participating in community service projects throughout the morning.

“That’s something new this year,” said Cael Ruzicka, a member of the student council and a student school board member. “We’re going out and getting students into the community, doing jobs that students choose to do.”

Projects include cleanup at places such as the fairgrounds, parks, bike trails and riverfront areas; live concerts performed by music students; and positive affirmations at elementary schools, among many other things. Ruzicka said the students have “a great day planned.”

“It seems like all the students at the high school are embracing these new activities,” added Isaiah Tilton, another student school board member.

The dress-up day festivities are a long-time CCHS tradition. This week’s days have been Meme Monday, Tuesday Twin Day and USA Wednesday. Today (Friday) is Orange and Black Friday throughout the district.

On Throwback Thursday, Cunnings chose to dress as one-half of Kris Kross — the American hip-hop duo that hit big on the pop charts in 1992 with the smash hit song “Jump.” The duo was noted for its unusual fashion choice of wearing clothes backwards, which Cunnings emulated.

“All my clothes are backward. It’s 90s day for the staff so I’m dressed up as Kris Kross,” she said.

“I’ve had a couple people know exactly who I was, but not the students,” she said. “They weren’t born yet.”

The theme for homecoming this year is “Lighting the Way.” This year’s CCHS homecoming court is king candidates Bronson Forsyth, Dawson Hinders, Bradley Andrews, Brahiam Rios and Noah Reams. Queen candidates are Cassandra Foxen, Lisabeth Fiser, Alexandria Litterer, Priscilla Arenas and Astrid Hernandez.

Pre-game homecoming ceremonies will feature the CCHS choirs and Lincoln Elementary 4th-grade students presenting “America the Beautiful” and singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” accompanied by the Comet Marching Band. At halftime of the football game, the marching band and dance team will present “That’s So Last Year.” The homecoming dance will follow the football game at 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the Comet Hall of Fame Brunch, sponsored by Charles City Community Excellence in Education Foundation, will begin at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. The public is invited to attend. Comet Hall of Fame inductees for 2019 are Greg Brunner, Austin Downey, Mike Duroe, Ralph Smith and Gary Schwartzhoff. Master of Sports and Master of Performing Arts recognition will also take place at the brunch.

Also Saturday, citizens can support the school district by driving a Ford. Mike Molstead Motors will be hosting a “Ford Drive 4 UR School” event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

People can take a 15-minute preview drive in a new Ford vehicle, with no pressure to buy. For every test drive taken, the Ford Motor Co. will donate $20 to the school, up to a total of $6,000.

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