Homecoming Parade a memorable event for everyone

The Warwick Valley Homecoming Parade was another success this year – on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 – despite rain that pushed the event off its originally scheduled Saturday. The community came out to show their spirit and pride for the schools. And, the Warwick Valley Central School District is appreciative for everyone – from the marchers to the spectators to the community donors – who helped make the event just as memorable as ever!

“I would like to thank everyone in the community who helped make homecoming possible this year, from the businesses to the community members,” said Danielle Bugasch, homecoming co-advisor with Makenna DiGuilio. “They are always so good and this year was even more so. We are so grateful.”

Grand Marshall and teacher Andy Warren stepped off to lead the parade, which included school district and school administrators, the Warwick Valley VFW Post 4662 color guard, the High School marching band, Warwick Police and High School cheerleaders.

Then each of the class floats rolled through along with their class court and class advisors, starting with the freshmen class and progressing to the senior class, with High School sports teams between.

The senior class won the homecoming float decorating contest. The homecoming theme this year was Disney. The four classes each chose a theme for their class float: Seniors – Toy Story (first place); Juniors – Pirates of the Caribbean (second place); Sophomores – Tangled (third place); and Freshmen – Moana (fourth place). The floats were judged on several criteria: Creativity, beauty, presentation, banners, movement, costumes, theme relevance and wow factor.

Homecoming King Austin Droge and Queen Sami Brady, both seniors, rode the parade route. Their court of princes and princesses for all classes were also represented – Seniors: Prince Dylan Burke and Princess Sophia Samborski; Prince Paxton Honerkamp and Princess Abby Glover; and Prince Zach Johnston and Princess Zoe Link.  Juniors:  Prince Jaeden Walker and Princess Charlotte Wendt; Prince Garrison Sobo and Princess Brielle Isernia; Prince Connor Price and Princess Sophie Ragens; Prince Nico DiMattina and Princess Keira Harrison. Sophomores: Prince Will Roome and Princess Addison O’Donnell; Prince Matthew Tully and Princess Reagan Smith; Prince Finn Kennedy and Princess Madi Olsewski; Prince Connor Holland and Princess Madison Beiling. Freshmen: Prince Jake Cosco and Princess Emmerson Powers; Prince Harry Piskaldo and Princess Juliette Cloudier; Prince RJ Carroll and Princess Gabby Romero; Prince Ben DiMartino and Princess Ashlyn Brown.

The parade included members from the Warwick Valley Teachers Association as well as teachers, administrators and students representing all schools – Warwick Valley High School, Warwick Valley Middle School, Park Avenue Elementary and Sanfordville Elementary as well as the Odyssey of the Mind team.

The parade ended with a surprise for spectators this year, Ms. Bugasch said. “To try and give the crowd a bigger show because of the rescheduling I added fire trucks at the end to show that we made it bigger and better than ever.”