Rachael Ort and Mackenzie Shelton show their school spirit and dress up for Fashion Disaster Day during homecoming at Brandywine. (Photo submitted)

By JESSICA SIEFF

Niles Daily Star

Make no mistake, Brandywine High School student Mackenzie Shelton is indeed wearing a tie-dyed shirt paired with a polka dot bathrobe.

Such a sight is a sure sign of homecoming — and Brandywine students will celebrate all week, leading up to a Friday night football match-up against visiting Edwardsburg.

Student adviser Rory McLaughlin said Tuesday night was set to be an eventful one, with a powder puff football game followed by a bonfire and a special fundraiser through which students can pay $1 to throw a few hits at an old “junker” vehicle.

The money raised, McLaughlin said, would go toward future student events.

“For us to put on other school dances and raise money for other events that we put on throughout the year,” he said.

For upperclassmen, homecoming is a time-honored tradition. But for underclassmen it’s a sign of the switch from middle school to high school, McLaughlin said, and they’re showing enthusiastic participation for related activities.

Throughout the week, students will take part in themed days. Monday was “Fashion Disaster Day” and Tuesday was “Dress Like Steve Urkel Day,” where several students donned eyeglasses and suspenders in an effort to imitate the nerdy “Family Matters” character.

“We get a lot of participation with the dress-up,” McLaughlin said. “Right now we’re getting most of the underclassmen. Freshmen and sophomores are leading the days.”

The rest of the week will round out with themed days and prior to the home game on Friday, students will take part in a homecoming parade throughout the neighborhood.

“It’s usually pretty big,” McLaughlin said. “We usually get a lot of people at the homecoming game and at the dance, too.”