HOCO: Getting the Party Started

Every year is another homecoming, but under all the confetti, what really goes on behind the scenes?

The HHS Student Council began preparing early this September for this year’s homecoming taking place October 4, 2025, at Hastings Senior High School.

When it comes to homecoming, booking the DJ and getting a clean music set ready is at the top of the student council’s agenda. The council created sample music sets and have been asking students for their opinions.

“[Harper Rundle] is doing a good job of finding clean versions or songs they don’t have to be ‘bleeped’ out like every four seconds,” Student Council President Madison Fielder said with a laugh. “Hopefully we’ll have some good bops people can jam to and that it’ll be a safe environment where everyone feels included.”

According to Student Council Advisor Jim Fielder, nearly 500-600 students attend homecoming each year, and with that, appeasing everyone’s music taste becomes a difficult task for the council. In one instance six to seven years ago, students sat in protest at the song selection.

“One of my students came over and said, ‘They don’t like the song.’ I’m like, ‘That’s why we’re sitting on the floor?’ So, we stopped that song, put another song on, and then they started dancing. ‘Oh, that was weird…’” Jim Fielder said.

One recurring issue the student council runs into each year is students leaving too quickly. They are looking to keep students until after the homecoming king and queen crowning.

“I think the record for a person staying before leaving… was like maybe five minutes. They didn’t even stay for the crowning and then left, which if you’re going to spend the eight dollars for the ticket, I don’t understand why you’d do that,” Madison Fielder said.

Despite the run-ins, the student council tries to stay motivated.

“I think we all want a fun little backdrop or a fun looking room to have HOCO in… [and] we want to make it fun for everyone else too,” Madison Fielder said.

Alongside tunes are decorations and balloons, with the student council bringing back the balloon arches and pillars from previous years. This year, however, the council has a few hundred dollars budgeted for decoration materials.

“I hope [the students] come in and they see backdrops and an environment they want to be in and that they’ll stay for longer and enjoy their time,” junior Macy Wademan said.

Wademan, alongside sophomore Kaliyah Perez, have been working on a new backdrop for this year’s City of Stars theme, which will be behind the homecoming royalties. They are still waiting for materials and have yet to complete the backdrop.

“I’m pretty excited, but I’m also kind of scared of how we’re going to get it to stick to the wall. I think having a positive mindset will make it more enjoyable,” Wademan said.

Besides homecoming, the student council has to plan Spirit Week. Using student polls from previous years, they chose Spirit Week themes to vote on.

“We try to keep it simple so there are things you can just find in your closet and don’t have to buy expensive clothes for,” Madison Fielder said.

The student council encourages more students, teachers, and staff to participate in dressing up for Spirit Week this year.

“I think Spirit Week is a great way to get the whole school involved. It’s an easy thing to do. You just dress up and come to class,” Madison Fielder said. “I think more people should participate because it creates unity in the school and… [we come] together to do one simple project.”

As the homecoming deadline approaches, the student council is kept busy, but they are not alone. Event chaperones, teachers, and friends sometimes volunteer and help out.

“We’re always inviting if others want to join in, and if they like decorating, that would be fantastic. We won’t turn them away,” Jim Fielder said.

Though the student council is receiving help from other volunteers, they also make sure to help the custodians after homecoming each year.

“I love working with this group. They’re motivated. They get excited about things. They’re responsible and get things done,” Jim Fielder said. “They want to help and do their part to not put too much extra work on our custodian staff, who are doing an amazing job and have too many other things to worry about and take care of.”

It is not just at homecoming too. Head Custodian Michael Morgan notes he usually has little to clean after other large events like prom because the student council, teachers, and event planners get to cleaning first.

“[After prom] Ms. Fajardo just steps up and wants to do it, and that’s what’s nice. She doesn’t say, ‘You know Mike, I’ll help you with this,’ she’s just like, ‘Mike, I’m going to do this because I enjoy doing it,’” Morgan said. “That’s what I found was the best part when I took over as Head Custodian.”

With the loss of three maintenance staff members, Morgan and his four night staff have a lot on their plate having to clean the school on top of extra requests from teachers. He appreciates the efforts teachers and student council put into cleaning up after school events.

“We’re very fortunate to have their help… it allows me to operate and keep the school going cleaning wise,” Morgan said.

Even if Morgan does not clean much after homecoming, he still manages to encounter some odd finds.

“Shoes… I don’t understand how so many kids go home without their shoes on, or one shoe for that matter!” Morgan said with a laugh.

In light of a recent message Principle Jeff Linden sent out on ParentSquare about unhygienic internet trends, the student council hopes homecoming will remain a clean and safe environment for both the students and custodians.

“I wish people would see the school as ‘their’ school… I wish people would take ownership that this is their place,” Jim Fielder said. “Have fun at the dance, you can have tremendous amounts of fun without… stupid things.”

For there to even be a mess or missing shoes, there has to be a homecoming first. This will be the first year tickets will be available for purchase on Bound, each costing eight dollars. The purchasing portal will be emailed to students with less than three detention hours September 29 and will close October 3 at 12:00 p.m.

“I think at first we were all a little antsy about going on Bound,” Madison Fielder said. “A majority of the council thought it would be better to sell the actual tickets, and we think that’s what students prefer… but it’s easier for administration.”

The homecoming dance will take place on October 4 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the school’s South Gym.

“Homecoming is a fun time to get back into the school environment and hang out with friends, so you should go!” Madison Fielder said.