DAYTON-This year has brought us many restrictions, including the school events students enjoy most. Ordinarily, football season takes place in the fall; and with football, comes the homecoming dance. This year has obviously been very different from previous years, but we have been able to work around the setbacks, and finally have our football season.

Unfortunately, the high school was unable to have a Homecoming at its usual time, but with the football season still underway, the high school Associated Student Body (ASB) has decided to hold Homecoming. Since they are unable to throw a dance, celebrating a tradition will be a full-blown Homecoming week of activities.

Since the start of the first sport season of the year, the ASB has been planning a Homecoming celebration in the form of Spirit Week starting March 29 through April 2! Each day will be packed with a special activity and dress up day for all to enjoy. The theme will be Disco, and the high school will be decorated accordingly.

To start off the week, Monday's theme will be "Throwback Day", where each student will get to dress in the fashions from any decade of their choice, and the activity will be a special "Spirit Stick" Day. This will allow each class to create their own class spirit stick, which will signify them as a group, and their school spirit, and is to be used at pep assemblies, rallies, and other occasions which call for Dayton pride. The council will provide them with the basic materials and decorations to get them started, and for the underclassmen, they will be able to add to it for many years to come.

Tuesday will bring another Dayton-Waitsburg football game against White Swan, and in lieu of this, the dress-up theme will be School Spirit. Wearing their best Dayton Gear, the students will take part in a pep assembly outside of the school, which will start before the football team leaves for their game, in order to send them off with excitement and energy. Wednesday, will be the classic "America Day" for dress-up. Students will don their best American flag and other national pride themed gear for the day. As well as Homecoming Week, this week will also be the time to elect next year's ASB Council officers. The election will be held on Wednesday, as well as the voting for homecoming king & queen.

In place of a homecoming dance, Thursday's theme will be "Formal". While it is out of the ordinary, the idea is for everyone to come to school dressed as they would at a homecoming dance, Of course this is limited to school dress code expectations, but it is expected to be a fun and unique day for all.

As well as dressing in semi-formal attire, the Junior class, and ASB have worked together to throw a mini-Homecoming in the high school commons at lunch, including providing cupcakes and pizza for everyone to enjoy. This will include the presentation of the homecoming court, and the crowing of the king and queen.

Because it is still important to keep distance, dancing will be kept to a minimum, if any, and will likely only apply to the traditional king and queen's first dance.

To end the week with a bang, Friday will be "Gender Bender" Day. A humorous concept where female students will dress in typical male attire, and male students will dress in typical female attire. This will go hand in hand with the activity of the day, a school and community favorite, Stud Volleyball. The event will be held during school hours; therefore, no community members will be allowed to watch this year. However, it will still be a fun activity for the students to take part in.

This Spirit Week will be one that many students of Dayton High School will remember in these trying times. Hopefully, it will bring some sense of normality to the year.