A wood and felt top hat, 5 feet tall and 8 feet in diameter, will be placed in the middle of the dance floor Friday night for Douglas High School's homecoming bash.
"This year's theme is, 'Do you believe in magic?'" said high school leadership teacher Karen Lamb, whose class constructed the hat.
If this week's events are any indication, magic means a wild amount of school spirit - mini-tractor races, pool noodle fights, whip cream eating contests and a bonanza of crazy costumes, from farmers day to surfs-up day. Add in a live performance by the teacher air band Staff Infection, and students should be sufficiently pumped by Friday's pre-lunch pep rally.
"It's one of those years when we need this," Lamb said. "The kids need it, the community needs it, because it makes the school a better place. Yes, school is about academics, but also about having fun."
Lamb credited her 35 leadership students with organizing this year's events.
"I have 35 kids who work their butts off every day, hours and hours of relentless work to make this place better," she said.
All that hard work and school spirit will culminate Friday night when the Douglas High varsity football team battles the Wooster Colts. The game starts at 7 p.m. The homecoming queen and king will be announced at half-time.
"It's a true, unadulterated honor," said 17-year-old nominee Cody Lee, dressed in a pair of tiger-striped spandex pants. "The joy in my heart is boundless."
Lee said he has no plans "aside from winning." As for the big dance Friday night, he's going stag.
Classmate Scotty Lococo, also 17, said the question for him isn't whether he'll be going to the dance alone, but rather how many girls he'll be taking.
"It feels great; I didn't see it coming," Lococo said of being nominated king. "I'm going to make the best of it."
Senior Jourdan Burke, nominated for queen, said she "really likes all the girls nominated."
"I'll be happy for anyone who wins," she said.
Other nominees include C.J. Baumgartner, Christine DuPuis, Jamie Lundergreen and Haley VonSchottenstein for queen, and Edgar Arceo, Beau Battista and Cole Green for king.
"We want to encourage everyone to get involved in all the sports," Lamb said. "Go support JV Thursday night. We want to crush the Colts."
