When the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) Homecoming Parade rolled through the streets near the Islander students’ domain, senior organizer Andrew Howison wanted the community to enjoy the festivities and aimed to help bring middle and elementary schoolers one step closer to their future.
There was a plethora of floats involved in the event that included members of high school clubs, programs and sports teams, entities that the youngsters can be part of when their upper-school time comes.
“I’m so excited that the community, the city, everyone is happy that we’re back and we’re full swinging. Homecoming is about community and I couldn’t be more happy to be spending my last year planning a big community event,” said Howison, who spoke to the Reporter the day before the Oct. 7 evening event.
“Space” was the theme of this year’s parade and it featured the four main class floats representing planets. Howison, who also dubbed the parade “Out of this World,” said that the Homecoming royalty, band, cheer and drill squads, drama, choir and more MIHS students would take to the streets on parade night. Grand marshals were MIHS cafeteria servers Lilly Okimura and Jane Dolence, who Howison said are vital community members who brighten up the students’ days. Following the parade, the Islanders’ football squad took on Lake Washington at MIHS Stadium.
Howison will certainly keep himself busy throughout the school year as the associated student body (ASB) public relations coordinator and as one of the two MIHS student representatives on the Mercer Island School District board. Junior Asha Woerner joins the board for the first year of her two-year term as Howison continues his involvement in year two.
Along with the major back-to-school assembly and the Homecoming week activities to kick off the year, the ASB students will be at the helm of myriad other assemblies throughout the year to honor veterans, salute MIHS seniors and more. ASB leaders will also help support and promote student groups, club fairs and lend a hand when students begin gearing up for prom in May.
One critical element of the Homecoming parade for Howison was routing the event through the streets near the high school. That way, there was a fluidity to the event where people could watch the parade and then file into the nearby stadium to cheer on the Islanders’ football squad. (Lake Washington won, 49-14.)
Howison added about school unity and bringing clubs and sports teams into the fold: “If we’re going to make it around the high school, we want as many people participating (as possible).”
When they switch into student representative mode, Howison and Woerner engage with school board members, the district superintendent and members of the Washington State School Directors’ Association while bringing their fellow students’ concerns to the table.
One particular issue that the MIHS reps discussed with the board was students’ mental health when they returned to the classroom full time last year after studying remotely and in hybrid form during the initial COVID-19 year.
As a freshman, when Howison heard from his mentors and school board reps about them having a say in potential local and state school-policy change, he said, “It was really unique to me that they had the ability to have such a big impact that is way greater than anything that you can do at a school level.”
Whether Howison is ensconced in his ASB or school-rep role throughout the day, he’s always looking to help amplify student voices. Some students are more outspoken, but he wants to help turn up the quieter voices and get those students involved if they wish.
“How do we find voices from all around the school that represent the school in a deeper way?” he asked. It’s another item on Howison’s packed agenda as he connects with students and searches for more “amazing ideas” to include in his conversations with ASB and school board members.
There were plenty of floats and attendees at the Mercer Island High School Homecoming Parade on Oct. 7. Photos courtesy of the Mercer Island School District
