Senior class hosts barbecue to kick off Homecoming week

Wiping dried paint off their foreheads and dusting off their jeans, Homecoming decorators cheered as they put the final touches into place at 6 p.m. last Sunday.

Stomachs growling after the 10-hour work day, the dozens of students cleaned up their paint buckets and rushed to join their families in the front of the school for fresh-off-the-grill food and thirst-quenching drinks.

The senior class officers and class parents hosted the first-ever Homecoming Barbecue to celebrate the end of Move-In Weekend and kick off Homecoming week, and as the students were transforming the Quad into “A Land Far, Far Away,” senior parents were decorating the grassy area in the front of the school with Christmas lights, and tables with Halloween and Star Wars-themed centerpieces.

“[We hoped] celebrate the students’ hard work over [the]  weekend [and] at the same time, bring in class revenue,” senior class treasurer Michael Owyang said.

Food was catered by CB Hannegan’s in Los Gatos. Menu options included three main courses: barbeque chicken, Italian sausage and vegetarian lasagna. Side dishes were garlic bread, potato salad, vegetarian baked beans and green salad. Dessert and beverages were provided by parent volunteers.

Over 170 tickets to the event were preordered; adults and students paid $25 and children under the age of 12 paid $12. All proceeds went to the senior class fund.

“The money we made from this event will be very helpful for prom and for replenishing the money spent on Homecoming,” Owyang said.

Besides enjoying the gourmet food, parents and students also used the time to walk around the Quad and marvel at the decorations. There were also raffle tickets: The winner is to be announced today for the pair of Bose QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Canceling headphones.

The senior class raised about $1,500 from the event. Senior class officers said they will hold more class bonding activities and fundraisers in the near future.