Brainstorm extraordinaires, the stars of every single AHS promo video, the planners, producers, and executors of Arcata High events, and most likely the noisy kids filming outside your classroom: this is the Arcata High leadership class. Under the advisory of Ar- cata High’s Tami Taylor-figure, Ms.Coriell, Leadership has chosen a theme, and started preparing for its most anticipated, imminent function, Homecoming: We got the Beat! And, while most people go to Homecoming and see the fruits of Leadership’s labor, this is a behind-the-scenes look at what a typical week in Leadership looks like “Kicking off” the biggest event of the year.
Monday:
Mondays are usually reserved for odd jobs and brainstorming. “A lot of people think we just do rallies and play games, but we do a lot of more odd things too,” Senior Evangelina Reed said. Accord- ing to Reed there’s a lot of running notes, making signs, and attempting to organize the Leadership Closet. In the week leading up to Homecoming, however, class time is usually spent discussing rally scripts or logistics of rally games.
Tuesday:
Tuesdays are for more concise brainstorming, and actual voting on themes, rally games, or dress-up days. “Every year it’s different,” Junior Fallyn Mill-Griggs said of the brainstorming process. Adding on to Fallyn’s observation Luke Moxon said, “Someone’s up at the board, and everyone pitches in on what they think is best.” This week, Tuesday was spent reading over the complete Kickoff Rally script, finalizing games, and delegating jobs.
Wednesday:
On Wednesday you wear pink, on Wednesday Leadership films promo. “I think they’re really fun to do, they’re usually on the fly, but it’s real-
ly enjoyable to put yourself out there,” Junior Bella Campbell said. Via TikTok and Instagram, Arcata High is very active on social media, thanks to ASB Secretary Natalie Lehman. “We’ve doubled last year’s views on almost every reel,” Lehman said of Arcata’s thriving Instagram page. Pre-Homecoming, Wednesdays will be days for making social media posts to remind people about dress-up days, and new additional Homecoming-related, so stay tuned!
Thursday:
Thursdays can include filming, making signs, finalizing job assignments, and making sure people remember what they need to bring for the rally. ASB Vice President Alex White says these days are time for Leadership to “prep for last minute things and pray the packages show up.”
Friday:
Fridays usually involve finishing anything that wasn’t done during the rest of the week: filming, painting signs, etc. Fridays also are rally days: leadership’s most important, chaotic, and entertaining days of the week. Everyone is preparing for their role in the event, going over the script, or getting the game materials ready. Junior Lennon Geider said of his rally prep process,
”I get to the gym, get ready, then it’s time to lock in. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go, there’s no going back.”
