Reverse Homecoming Parade Friday at ROCHS

The annual Red Oak homecoming parade will look a little backwards this year. Due to the coronavirus, the parade will be in reverse, similar to the Community Pep Rally Cruise Night. Homecoming will be held Sept. 21-26 with the theme of “No Place Like Home(coming).”

In order to keep the public safe, spectators will drive by the various school and community groups beginning at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. The parade will start at the First Christian Church, head west on Summit Street, turn north on 8th Street, and go south to the parking lot at the jr./sr. high school. It then turns left (south) on 4th Street towards Oak Street. The Tiger Bus will lead the procession starting at the church.

The community is welcome to join in the procession, but will not be given designated spot. This year’s Grand Marshall’s, Ken and Kathy Blackman, 2020 Hall of Famers and fall school activity groups will be lined in the south parking lot and along 4th Street in designated areas for the procession to pass by.

“Our plans are to provide the best experience we can for our students and community. Please know that these plans are subject to change,”said Mark Erickson, activities director.

Coronation will be held at the football field this year. Erickson explained, prior to the game there will be introductions of candidates and the Hall of Fame inductees will be honored. During halftime, the queen and king will be crowned and the Red Oak High School Marching Band will perform. The homecoming football game will be played as normal, with COVID-19 guidelines observed.

Additional details regarding Red Oak’s 2020 Homecoming event include:

• The district is planning to have a homecoming dance. This dance will take place from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the jr.-sr high school tennis courts.

• There will be no out of town guests allowed at the dance. Only Red Oak students in grades 9-12 will be allowed to attend this event.

• Students must have a student ID to enter.

• Multiple sections will be created at the tennis courts for groups of no more than 20 students in each section.

• Masks will be required.

• Only tennis shoes will be allowed as footwear to protect the tennis court surface.

• All students must pre-register in the office for the dance. Students who attend are required to stay in the confines of the tennis courts and activities building.

Students leaving this area will be required to sign out of the dance and leave school property.

In the event of inclement weather, the homecoming dance will be cancelled.

If anyone has any questions regarding this information, they can contact assistant principal Justin Williams at 623-6610, or email at williamsj@roschools.org.