Garden City Homecoming Celebration

The annual Garden City Homecoming weekend features several of the sports teams taking the field after celebrating Spirit Week but that’s not all GC has to offer. A highlight of the day for families young and old is the 7th Street Fair and parade, led off by the Parade Grand Marshal. This year’s honoree, Jim Malone, has committed years of service to the students of Garden City as a counselor, teacher, and mentor. Also featured in the parade are the high school king and queen, Liam Olcott and Sophia Hill, voted into the prestigious court of honor by their fellow students. The homecoming king and queen were also the recipients of a first class ride from Principal Kevin Steingruebner.

The parade features several student groups that will be performing during the halftime show including the GC Marching Band, Cheer team and the Kickline. Many other groups and school organizations march in the parade from the youngest participants, the Daisy troops, to several of the High School organizations such as the Student Council, the Spanish Club, the Stock Market Club and the Thespian Society.

Closing out the parade in regal style is the Garden City Fire Department and their bright red trucks that bring smiles to all the youngsters that line 7th street. And as always, the presence of the GCPD along the parade route and on 7th Street keeps the parade moving and the crowds safe.

The parade winds it’s way from 7th Street to the High School where the Trojans took on Valley Stream Central Eagles. The game is enjoyed by many in the overflow crowd but at times it appears that the halftime show is the centerpiece of the day.

Kicking off the halftime performance, the Garden City Marching Band, under the direction of Director Daniel DellaMonica, performed several of their award-winning numbers for the crowd. Then it was the tumbling and acrobatic Cheerleaders turn to take the field for coach Chelsea Bressingham. And they didn’t disappoint as they spelled out GCHS in front of the high-flying acrobats. The Cheer team keeps the crowd engaged throughout the game with their many enthusiastic cheers and high energy execution of choreographed routines.

And last but certainly not least was the fabulous performance by the GC Kicklines. First up for coach Natalie Ciminera was a performance by the junior varsity kickline who had to complete their performance without background music. But in true ‘the show must go on’ fashion, the girls kept time with the help of their Varsity teammates counting off for them to keep the beat.

Wrapping up the halftime show was the Varsity Kickline and they did not disappoint with a high kicking and well-choreographed performance that brought the stands to their feet. Unfortunately for the girls their performance also fell victim to an issue with their background music forcing them to perform with the crowd loudly counting off the beat for them. It was unfortunate but it also showed the determination of the girls and the support they receive from the fans in the stands.

A great showing by all the student athletes on a very special day for the community of Garden City.