Community Celebrates Homecoming at Dublin High Skit Rally

Imagine a world where  doesn't exist or Gael Spirit is prohibited by law... Dublin High students did Thursday night at the annual Homecoming Skit Rally. In a series of imaginative skits Dublin High freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors competed for Homecoming Spirit Points.

The student written, directed and performed skits were the culmination of weeks of effort by hundreds of classmates and parent volunteers. Dublin High's recently opened was the venue with the four corners of the gym reserved for each class, and the center stands filled with Dublin High families and the community.

Each class skit was built around a theme - the freshmen kicked off the evening with a lively skit based on ancient Greece. The sophomores' put a clever spin on their theme - 1920's - by imagining a world where prohibition meant Gael Spirit was illegal and students met in speakeasy's to express school spirit. The juniors used time travel to settle on their western theme (1870's), poking fun at the other classes as they stopped in different decades along the way.

The senior class demonstrated their skit rally experience with the strongest performance of the evening built on the theme "2050 - futuristic". The senior skit began with a frustrated student wishing Dublin High never existed. In a riff on "It's a Wonderful Life", the Spirit of Gael appeared to show what Dublin would be like in 2050 without Dublin High (not surprisingly, that future was bleak).

In contrast, the students got to see what the future would be like with Dublin High restored - the result was inspiring. The Spirit of Gael showed the Dublin High students of 2050 grown up to become successful scientists, musicians, artists, business leaders and even the first female President (hopefully it doesn't take that long). The now illuminated student wished for Dublin High's return and (with a mandatory dance routine) the skit rally came to a raucous end.

Between skits the Homecoming Prince and Princesses for each class were announced (with special guest and 2010 Homecoming Queen given the honor of crowning each winner). The Homecoming King was also announced with the Homecoming Queen set to take center stage during halftime of the varsity football game Friday night.

Dublin High's band performed as parents, teachers, students and members of the community filled Dublin High's Sport Complex. The Dublin High Cheerleading Team, assisted by members of the Gaels Football Team and English teacher Holly Cunningham, led an enthusiastic and fun routine with cheerleaders and football players poking fun at themselves, all dressed in colorful ballet tutus.

Dublin Patch asked attendees what Dublin High Homecoming means to them:

School Board Trustee David Haubert: "Homecoming is a time when the whole community can show off their pride and spirit for Dublin High. I'm really proud of my daughter Katelyn [Dublin High senior and School Board  Student Representative], her class and all the kids at Dublin High."

Principal Carol Shimizu: "Homecoming is a fabulous time for everybody to reconnect and celebrate all the great things going on at Dublin High School."

Parent Sheri Platter: "It's a total community event - an opportunity for friends and family to get together."

Parent and 2010 City of Dublin Citizen of the Year Chris Bennett: "To me Homecoming means a chance for all of the high school to come together, for classes to come together and the larger community to come together to celebrate the great thing that is Dublin High School."

Teacher and City of Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti: "Homecoming is a great event that brings the entire community together. Tonight's one of my favorite nights of the year - to see the spirit of all the classes, and then to have the parade, carnival and game which brings out the entire city, alumni and everyone that has been connected to the school - it's a wonderful thing."