Although it will be different from previous years, Helias Catholic High School will celebrate homecoming this week with a parade and other events.
Helias' drive-thru homecoming parade is scheduled at 6 p.m. Thursday on the Helias campus on Swifts Highway in Jefferson City. Student clubs and activities will be represented as the students stand on campus and community members drive by to celebrate in their vehicles. The community is invited to drive through the campus, and the route will be announced soon, Helias Communications Director Sandy Hentges said.
Other Helias homecoming activities include a Mass and queen assembly Tuesday and an assembly Friday afternoon before the 7 p.m. football game against Rock Bridge High School.
The powder puff football game was canceled because school officials determined social distancing would not be possible, so the student council planned a movie night in place of that event today, where students will watch "The Greatest Showman" on the football field.
The homecoming assembly will involve some virtual components, games between classes and performances from the band, dance and cheer teams.
Social distancing and masks will be required for all events, and the football game will follow Helias' sports attendance policy.
While there will not be a homecoming dance this semester, Helias hopes to have a dance once it's deemed safe to do so, Hentges said.
The Sadie Hawkins dance scheduled for Feb. 6 could become more formal if COVID-19 cases are down by then, and it may be pushed to the spring, she said.
"We do plan to hold these events; we just don't know when," Hentges said.