Portola Jr. Sr. High School celebrates homecoming with parade
Portola Junior/Senior High School (PJSHS) held their 2022 homecoming parade on Friday, September 30 on a beautiful fall day with many in the community turning out to enjoy the show.
The Grand Marshalls of the 2022 PJSHS Homecoming parade, Matt and Elizabeth Cruse, owners of Gumbas in Blairsden wave to the crowd as they cruise through Portola. PHS ASB wants the community to recognize the impact that Matt and Elizabeth Cruse have had on every athletic and academic club Portola High School offers. “For them, we are forever grateful,” PHS ASB students said. photo by Ian HoffmannThis year’s float theme was “Coming Home to Game Night”. Each class was challenged with building a float to best capture their favorite board game, with the Senior Class of 2023 doing their best to pass go and collect $200 with Monopoly, and the Junior Class of 2024 being mysterious with Guess Who. The Sophomore Class of 2025 captured the sweetness of Candyland, and the Freshman Class of 2026 kept the crowd guessing with Clue.
The Portola High School class of 2026 boogies down the parade route, throwing candy from their Clue-themed float, much to the delight of young bystanders. photo by Lauren WestmorelandAdditionally, for the first time ever, seventh and eighth graders built their own mini-floats for the parade to get them ready for the big time in high school. Eighth graders designed a theme around Shoots N’ Ladders and the seventh graders got it twisted with Twister. Additionally, the floats were presented once more directly after the Portola JV game against Los Molinos on Friday night, with the class of 2025 coming in as first place $500 winner, the Class of 2023 in second place with $250, the Class of 2024 in third place with $150, and the class of 2026 in fourth with $100.
Portola Junior/Senior High School Principal Sara Sheridan and ASB Advisor and math teacher Erin Cooper grin as they proceed down the parade route and wave to happy young attendees. photo by Lauren WestmorelandThe Portola Tigers honored local philanthropists Matt and Elizabeth Cruse, owners of Gumbas Family Pizza, for their never-ending support of the PHS student body. PHS ASB wants the community to recognize the impact that Matt and Elizabeth have had on every athletic and academic club PHS offers. For them, they are forever grateful.
PHS Football players overflow with energy and Purple Pride as they smile and wave, preparing for a ‘battle royale’ during the evenings’ homecoming games at Portola High School. photo by Ian Hoffmann
