TENNERTON – With the pandemic and social distancing, many events celebrated in past years are impossible to have this year.
However, Upshur County Schools’ administration, the Upshur County Commission, Buckhannon City Council and the Buckhannon-Upshur High School Student Council have worked hard to make sure as much of B-UHS Homecoming as possible takes place.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, Upshur County Schools administration and Student Council issued a press release letting everyone know the B-UHS Homecoming Dance will take place at a later date because of “safety restrictions at this point in time.”
The release reports that ‘it is the hope of Student Council that we will be able to reschedule the dance part of Homecoming for our students at Buckhannon-Upshur High School.”
B-UHS Student Council Advisor Michael Wilson spoke with My Buckhannon on Thursday evening to update people about the specifics of the B-UHS Homecoming.
“The students seemed to have the idea we were still going to have the Homecoming Dance, but it will not be happening at this point,” Wilson said. “The dance has been postponed because of the need to be socially distanced. The dance will occur in the future at some point, but right now it is not scheduled.”
Wilson said there was a lot of work put into scheduling the parts of Homecoming for B-UHS that can happen.
“The rest of the stuff is outside except for the Homecoming Coronation,” Wilson said. “The coronation will be live-streamed through Channel 3. They will also be using YouTube and possibly Facebook so the public can see the B-UHS Homecoming Coronation on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 at 1 p.m. There will be a reception for Homecoming Court members and their parents at 11:30 a.m.”
The B-UHS Homecoming Parade was scheduled to be Wednesday evening, Oct. 21, 2020 as well. Wilson said the parade will start at Tractor Supply parking lot, adding that it’s just for the parents and school officials are working on having that live-streamed as well.
“This will be for parents and family members to watch from Tractor Supply to Brushy Fork Road,” Wilson said. “Law enforcement will help with blocking the roads off. The rest of the parade will be limited. The B-UHS Marching Band will march from the West Virginia State Police barracks up to the high school. That will be just for the student body. It will circle the parking lot.”
Wilson said tentatively, a pep rally will be held following the parade where students may attend.
“We are working on that,” he said. “The public cannot attend the pep rally – not even the parents of the students. All the sports teams and the Homecoming Court members will be recognized from the bleachers.”
Wilson said the pep rally and recognition is another item they are working to get live-streamed so the public can watch.
B-UHS’s Homecoming Game will be Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 against Bridgeport High School.
“At this point, that will be what is going on,” Wilson said. “I am telling Homecoming Court members we have to get approval with our athletic director to see if they will be allowed to participate during half-time at Friday’s game.”
Wilson asked that the public be patient with everyone regarding the events.
“We are dealing with these circumstances and if we are orange or above on the map on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 at 5 p.m., nothing will occur,” Wilson said. “No sports or coronation will happen next week if we are orange or above – but it will be postponed and rescheduled at a later date.”
Wilson said he wants to thank the public for being patient.
“We are thankful for the support we received from everyone – not all communities are having this opportunity,” Wilson said. “We are thankful the Upshur County Board of Education is supporting us as well as the Upshur County Commission and Buckhannon City Council.”
