There is more to a Friday night football game at Center Grove High School than the gridiron plays and the touchdowns. There are many important factors that must come together to make the evening more than a game played between two opposing teams. Beyond the football team, the coaches and the football parents are the cheerleaders and the band. They too work equally hard to make Friday night football into an exciting night, and are supported by the community, school and especially their parents.
“CGHS Front Row” wants to bring the activities out from behind the scenes into the forefront that focuses on the commitment that it takes to support the students of Center Grove High School. It is a look into parental support of the numerous areas of sports, arts and academic clubs. This month we take a glimpse into what it takes to be a Cheer Mom and a Band Parent. We also highlight the great lengths Band Parents are going to send the CGHS Marching Band to the national stage of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
To have a CGHS cheerleader in the family means that you are called to be supportive. You support the cheerleaders and their coach, Kristi Kitchel. It also means being the cheer behind the cheers. The role of being a cheer mother is taking care of their girls and making their time as a CGHS cheerleader special. The years of committed care culminates during the girls’ senior years. The senior mothers’ focus is to make their children’s final year of high school cheer a memorable and cherished one.
Jodie Heydon is a mother of senior varsity cheerleader, Mallory. Heydon explains some of the traditions for the senior year of a CGHS cheerleader. The seniors hold car washes and a minicamp for elementary children. The funds raised help pay for the banners of the senior girls. Heydon also shared the tradition of the junior girls decorating megaphones for the outgoing seniors. Pictures adorn the megaphones to make meaningful keepsakes of their years rallying the crowds to cheer for the Trojans.
For 36 years the Center Grove Band Boosters, also known as the band parents, have stood behind the Trojan Band in becoming a national success story. Box moms work between home football games and band competitions to wash and maintain the uniforms of their dedicated students. Chuck wagon parents provide meals before every home football game. Band Boosters run the school concession stands during every event. These dedicated parents also decorate the lockers, chaperone and run various band events at the high school. The 30th Calvacade, October 11, is a great example of a daylong event the CG parents plan and manage.
The 2014 Calvacade will even host a huge raffle for lots of cash, trips and the grand prize of a new car! The winner of the car can choose from four different Ray Skillman models worth up to $30,000 MSRP. “The great deal about this auction,” said vice president of fundraising Lisa Kimbro, “is you do not need to be present at the Calvacade to win. We will draw the cash and trip prizes first and those winners will also be entered into the raffle for the grand prize.”
The raffle’s proceeds will go directly to the Center Grove Marching Band to offset the cost of travel, food, and lodging for participation in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Raffle Ticket Price: $40 for one, $100 for three.
Purchase your raffle tickets:
• October 3 or 10 – CG home football game
• Thursday nights at the football concession stand, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Calvacade, October 11, at the football stadium until 3 p.m.
• Website: centergrovebands.com/car-raffle and select Raffle Ticket Flyer or Order Form
• Lisa Kimbro at 750-7528 or laburch99@yahoo.com
