Although Chandler High School has many treasured Homecoming season traditions, new students may have many questions. Who created the first Homecoming parade? When did we start holding a parade? Why do we continue this tradition year after year? The lore of the CHS Homecoming Parade is deep, and we set out to dig into the details.
Ms. Amanda Austermann, CHS Student Council sponsor, explains that Chandler High School has held an annual Homecoming Parade for almost half a century: “The parade used to be held on Arizona Avenue during the 40 or so years it’s been around.” Years ago, the Homecoming Parade included members of the Chandler community and surrounding neighborhoods, but these days, participation is limited to mostly students, parents, and alumni. Although the parade has changed over the years, the same school spirit still shines: “The Homecoming parade is still useful for clubs, sports, and activities to connect more with others,” said Ms. Austermann. Now, the annual Homecoming Parade is a chance for new students and underclassmen to see the true colors of Chandler High and a spirited event that caps off one of the most memorable weeks of the school year.
This year’s Homecoming Parade was an opportunity for clubs and athletics teams to participate, including Black Student Union, Unified Soccer, Auto Club, Marching Band, ITS, Latinx Student Union, and more.
Principal Greg Milbrandt shares similar thoughts as Ms. Austermann. “The Homecoming parade is a great activity for our students,” he said. “It’s exciting for all the groups in the parade, and it’s exciting for the community members who come out and watch it.” In the last few years, many of the events held during Homecoming Week are planned with students in mind and designed to balance fun and safety. Mr. Milbrandt’s favorites are the Homecoming football game and dance.
“This is a great school with a great school spirit,” Mr. Milbrandt said. “It’s amazing to see activities like this because everyone gets involved and has fun with it.”
The parade is an opportunity for students of different clubs and groups to show off their true colors. This year, members of LSU built an astounding club float featuring bright colors to represent Mexican culture. They worked on their float for almost two weeks to proudly represent their heritage.
Sofia Armenta, a senior who is a fourth-year member of Latinx Student Union, explained that although it can be scorching hot in Arizona, the parade should not be overlooked: “It’s a lot of fun! I know many students don’t like coming out here due to the heat, but it’s something special that I’ve done all four years of high school.”
Tamiah Briggs, a junior and a member of Black Student Union and BSU Step Team, agreed with Sofia. “I like how involved the students get to be, like planning out what their float’s going to look like,” Tamiah said. “I’m happy to be a part of it.”
BSU also worked on their float for two weeks and even planned a dance performance during the parade to share with the CHS community. “We wanted to express our creativity. We weren’t following an exact theme, but we wanted a lot of elements to express our creative side,” Tamiah explained.
Although the Chandler High School Homecoming parade has evolved in many ways over the years, it is an annual tradition that matters a great deal to students, teachers, and community members.
