By CONNIE NOLEN / Community Columnist

“Okay, Pelham Panthers, can we have a count down?” Pelham Police Chief Larry Palmer’s shout-out started the first Panther Prowl—a new addition to Pelham High School’s Homecoming celebration.

“The senior girls wanted to have a parade or a spirit walk,” said PHS SGA sponsor Keri Ross, “and we thought parading to Karaoke would be fun.”

Thursday night of Homecoming week has traditionally been Karaoke night. Last year, Karaoke was at Warehouse 31.

Between the two SGA sponsors, Ross and Jessica Schach, they recruited cheerleaders, coaches, teachers, clubs, teams, cars, trucks, drivers, the Homecoming Court, the band and chaperones.

The parade formed, and after Chief Palmer’s inspired countdown resounded through that line-up of students’ voices, the first Panther Prowl began.

“The police department has been so helpful and we’ve had lots of community curiosity,” Ross said.

As the parade progressed, the community lined Bearden Road watching the Pelham Panthers parade to Warehouse 31 for a celebratory night of music and Homecoming fun.

Although this event was the first evening Panther Prowl, Homecoming parades are a part of PHS history.

When Pelham High School opened, Homecoming parades began in the lot across from Warehouse 31 in the early morning hours and made their way up the hill to the school.

“We’re doing the reverse,” Ross said.

After photographing the parade’s beginnings and climbing to take final photos from the hilltop, the parade’s descent brought to mind the many long-ago PHS parades.

My muscles remember climbing that hill in the searing morning sun, my legs realizing just how deceptively tame the slope looks—unless it’s the last of your parade and your legs are feeling the strain.

So—are we going in reverse or are we coming full circle? During the 70s opening of PHS, the surrounding community came together to support a high school.

Climbing that hill repetitively, they poured energy into this school. Now the energy effervesces back towards the community proclaiming, “This is what we became—a strong school of scholars, artists, athletes, performers and friends.”

PHS reaches out to celebrate the full circle of Homecoming.