Pinewood Celebrates a “Home Sweet Home” Homecoming
BY: Riya Patel, PCA Senior
Pinewood Christian Academy celebrated its 48th annual Homecoming week with a “Home Sweet Home” theme through the week of October 26-30, which was filled with fun and exciting days, as the students expressed themselves through varying themed days.
On Monday, the PCA students arrived sporting team jerseys, shirts, pajamas, and cheer uniforms to represent their favorite teams including the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves, Georgia Southern, and our very own Pinewood Patriots.
Front Row (l to r): Danalyn Williams, Brooklyn Clarke, Kennedy Tippins, Hartli Lewis, Charley Jane Franklin, and Gemma Blocker; Back Row: Gabe Bell, Easton Hall, Mason Yarbrough, Logan McEachin, Rooks Wilson, and Weston Beverly.
Tuesday, the halls of PCA transformed into a sea of red, white, and blue as students showed off their American pride and patriotism. There were Miss Americas, Captain Americas, and even boys in American Flag dress suits. It was truly a sight to see!
Front Row (l to r): Shelby Dasher, Lily Foster, Marley James Brannen, Ella Durrence, and Ruby Lain McLean; Back Row: Cullen Bruner, Jonah Barr, Ward Anderson, Ledger, Maverick Spacek, and Briggs Sapp.
On Wednesday, PCA students jingled the halls with festive feels. They dressed up in outfits and costumes to represent their favorite holiday of the year ranging from Santa Clause to the Easter Bunny and anything you could imagine in between.
Front Row: (l to r): Mallory Atkins; 2nd Row: Noah Kennedy, Shyann Kicklighter, Emersyn Hall, Peyton Bland, Ruth Rogers, and Catherine Kelly; 3rd row: Case Fountain, JT Brown, Nash Hodges, David Bar, Jacob Kennedy, Riley Dasher, Chi Sittle, and Andrew Whiten; Back Row: Mrs. Nita Callaway and Mrs. Pam Daniel.
Thursday began with the annual senior homecoming breakfast at the school parking lot. The seniors gathered together for a delicious breakfast of casseroles, eggs, and sausages and few outdoor games. Once the school day started, the students disappeared as they came through the door cladded in camouflage.
Front Row (l to r): Emma Conner, Cadyn Monroe, Ella Anderson, Maggie Bowen, Cassie Barry, Ally McCall, Kadence Sowell, Morgan Sapp, and Cierra Kinlaw; Second Row: Nathan Scott, Jonah Rogers, Payton Rogers, Shelby Dollar, Taylor Langford, Alyssa Dollar, Madelyn Holland, Cadence Lynn, Savana Collins, Emi Oates, Riya Patel, Ashlee Giardina, and Susie DeLoach; Third Row: Aden Williams, Landon DeLoach, Jacob Sikes, Thomas Rogers, Ben Bradley, Evan Belding, Grayson Swindell, Josh Rogers, Lydia Kicklighter, Emmi Stone, and Korbett McGregor; Back Row: Carson Rountree, Mallory Sessions, Kendalyn Spacek, Garret Bland, Layne Duffield, Jake Shuman, Kennon Bell, and Colt Bragg.
The Class of 2021 kicked off the final day of Homecoming week with a favorite tradition for the PCA seniors each year – the senior parade! The seniors gathered together and decorated their cars and buggies with streamers and balloons to prepare for the festive senior parade. The parade began at the varsity baseball field and followed along Buck Cravey Drive. Family, friends, students, and faculty all cheered them on in celebration for their last Homecoming as a Patriot.
Left to right (l to r): Maggie Bowen, Emma Conner, Cadence Lynn, and Ella Anderson.
As for the school day on Friday, the students colored the halls green, orange, and white. They displayed their school spirit by wearing football jerseys, Pinewood t-shirts, metallic necklaces, and more. The beloved “Cheerleader Hush Day” began after homeroom. The varsity cheerleaders were not allowed to talk to anyone except teachers and faculty. If a cheerleader was seen talking to anyone besides the exceptions, they had to give up their name tag to the student who caught them. Later these name tags served as an access pass to pie their cheerleader. This activity always results in hearty laughter and fun for everyone.
Front Row (l to r): Lydia Kicklighter; Middle Row: Carson Rountree, Riya Patel, and Ally McCall; Back Row: Dylan Williams, Nathan Scott, Aden Williams, Thomas Rogers, Jonah Rogers, and Ben Bradley.
To conclude the school day, the varsity cheerleaders led the school in a pep rally on the Lowell Coley Field to pump up the team for Friday night’s game against the Memorial Matadors. The football players charged through the Patriot banner and onto the field as cheer erupted from the crowd. The cheerleaders opened the pep rally with a dance to entertain the crowd. Then it was time for the seniors to play a game of ships and sailors which they had waited to do since they began at PCA. This annual tradition reserved for seniors only served as a way for them to have fun and for the spectators to have a good laugh. To finish the pep rally, senior Cadence Lynn led everyone in the singing of the Pinewood Alma Mater and the recipients of the cheerleader name tags cashed in their tags to pie their victims with plate full of whipped cream.
Minutes before kickoff for the football game, spectators gathered at the Lowell Coley Field to watch this year’s homecoming representatives as they were driven onto the home side of the field in convertibles. The 2019 Homecoming Queen, Ansley Howard, also attended to crown the new queen and princess.
Vying for the crown were seniors Ella Anderson, Payton Rogers, Carson Rountree, and Kendalyn Spacek. Jena Bradley, Marley Dekle, and Elizabeth Fawcett were the junior representatives. The sophomore representatives were Julia Hethcox and Claire Mullis. Elysia Coughlin was the freshmen representative. Genevieve Bradley represented the 8th grade and Libby Kate Blocker represented the 7th grade.
During the half-time show, each representative was escorted onto the field, followed by the flower girl and crown bearer who were first graders Ellie Tippins, daughter of Valerie and Clay Tippins, and Wilkes Thomas, son of Lindsay and Drew Thomas.
Ellie Tippins and Wilkes Thomas
The 2020 Pinewood Christian Academy Princess title was awarded to Carson Rountree, daughter of Sarah and Scotty Rountree of Daisy. Payton Rogers, daughter of Lisa and Steve Rogers of Statesboro, was then crowned the 2020 Pinewood Christian Academy Homecoming Queen.
This week brought students, faculty, and patrons together as they enjoyed a festive week full of fun and memories topped off with a Patriot victory over the Matadors with a score of 47-6.
