By Brandi Makuski

Fresh from the bright lights of Panacea, Pacelli High School is now focused on putting together a homecoming celebrate to remember.

This year the school’s 5 PM homecoming parade, held on October 9, will take a different route than previous years and ends with a new feature- the tailgate.

Pacelli Principal Larry Theiss said the parade route has been changed due to the late start of the Cardinals homecoming football game. SPASH Panthers take the field for an early game that day, and Pacelli’s game begins at 8 PM.

“Traditionally we start at Jefferson [Elementary], but this year we’re starting at St. Peter’s [Middle School] and coming down Washington [Avenue] to Union [Street], then up towards Pacelli,” Theiss said. “So it’s a new twist.”

Another new twist, he said, was the tailgate.

Theiss said the school’s 30-member junior/senior leadership team, comprised entirely of students, came up with the idea. The tailgate also includes family friendly games and possibly, he said, a pickup football game.

“The parade ends in the Pacelli parking lot, and right there we’ll have it set up for tailgating,” he said, adding families within the Catholic school system should bring their own food. “The football team will be getting ready during that time, so when they come out we’ll cheer them on as they get on to bus to head over to Goerke [Park].”

Theiss also said the school is opening its homecoming pep rally to Catholic school students from third grade and up.

“Last year we had the eighth graders come, and it was a big success,” he said. “The spirit you generate when you bring in the younger members of the community is huge. It’s showing those younger kids what it means to be a Pacelli high school student, instead of keeping it hidden. You get 300, 350 screaming, excited elementary kids in the gym, it’s just awesome.”

Pacelli Catholic High School will be celebrating homecoming October 4-10.

The City Times will publish the school’s parade route and list of homecoming activities at the end of September.