November 2, 2007

By Carol Rosen
Editor

It was the perfect homecoming, a beautiful day, a great parade and a winning game with lots of alums present followed by a wonderful dance. It was quite a day for the high school, especially beating James Lick by a lopsided score of 40-6.

WGHS cheerleaders urge the crowd to yell just before the Rams made their last touchdown of the game winning by the score of 40-6 over James Lick High School Comets. Photo by Carol Rosen

Homecoming Day, Saturday, Oct. 27, started out with a parade, whose grand marshall was City Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio, a 1988 WGHS grad. His car was followed by San Jose Unified School District Board Vice President Pam Foley and Don Iglesias and Rosa Molina, SJUSD superintendent and assistant superintendent, respectively.

Other school officials followed including Principal Shannon McGee and ASB President Adryn Maldonado and ASB Vice President, Florissa Sy.

But the great moments were the floats designed and decorated by the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes and featuring the ASB theme for the year, Eyes Wide Open. Each class chose a continent. The senior class designed and decorated the winning float, which depicted the shrinking life for animals. It featured jungle creatures and flags from each country located in Africa.

A number of others also marched in the parade including Gardener and River Glen Schools, the PAGE group, WGHS treble clef choir, WGHS Latino Club and Folklorico Dancers, WGHS Parents Club, the school’s mascot—Ramsey, WGHS cheerleaders and the WGHS band.

San Jose Police Department officers led, facilitated, cleared traffic and followed the last car in the parade.

“The parade took place because of the members of the Willow Glen community,” said Melissa McCoy Foster, director of WGHS activities and also an alumnus from the class of 1988. “People who live in Willow Glen are wonderful. I wouldn’t work anywhere else. Community members brought their convertibles for use in the parade, some of them are former parents, others were students and some are just helpful,” she added.

Four alumni wearing school T-shirts cheer the Rams to victory. From the class of 1957 are Robert Samaripa, far left, Bill Eilers, Tony Delmonico and Bob Tomasello. The four had been together the weekend before for their 50th reunion from WGHS and mentioned that current students had done a great job helping with the reunion. Photo by Carol Rosen

For the past few years, the school has offered attendants a chance to wander around a craft fair during the game. This year, the venue moved to a larger parking lot away from the bleachers, allowing easier access for the venders and their wares. Most of the 38 participating vendors were pleased with the crowd’s response noting that business was good. “This was my first year, I’ll probably do it again,” said Debbie Newton, who graduated from WGHS in 1972.

“It’s a nice crowd,” said another, adding that “business is pretty good. It’s not overwhelming, but it is pleasant and relaxing and very welcoming,” said another.

The dance also used the theme of Eyes Wide Open, but this time it was termed a “World Affair” and used icons from former world’s fairs, such as Seattle’s Space Needle and Paris’ Eiffel Tower coupled with a carnival-like atmosphere. Huge panoramas were designed and painted by the students. Foster singled out Brendan Metcalf and Robert Lopez as “incredibly gifted artists” whose work made the room come alive.

The homecoming king and queen are seniors Ricky Huynh and Evelyn Cervantes. They were joined by senior prince and princess Adam Joyce and Kalen Bigger; junior prince and princess Angelivan Oseguera and Samantha Baronessa; sophomore prince and princess Eric Toral and Lauren O’Shaughnessy; and freshman price and princess James Everhart and Stephany Rodriguez.