"It was a gracious move on the high school's behalf," says Willow Glen resident Laurie Elliott, whose 10-year-old son, Brandon, took part in the parade with his school, Willow Glen Elementary.

The inclusive theme was acknowledged by Principal Elaine Farace as she greeted the crowd with, "Good morning, future Rams."

As the children and teens paraded down Lincoln Avenue, cheers and laughter echoed from the crowd. Middle and high schoolers on floats shouted the year they would graduate and the parade watchers responded back with the year they graduated.

Spectators at the Oct. 15 event spent the morning watching floats, bands, the homecoming kings and queens, Willow Glen Middle School students and fifth-graders from the seven neighborhood schools stroll through downtown Willow Glen.

The Willow Glen Community Youth Band passed residents playing "Tequila," but replacing the words "Willow Glen" during the appropriate refrains in the song.

This year's theme for homecoming, "Give a little bit," emphasized the importance of looking beyond the immediate neighborhood.

"Homecoming was more than just spirit around the football game," Farace says. "It was about spirit around the community."

Each high school class selected a charity and built floats representing that nonprofit. The freshman class chose the American Cancer Society, the sophomores selected the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford Children's Hospital, juniors chose Habitat for Humanity and seniors picked the American Red Cross.

Farace says the charity aspect of the event really hit home when halfway through the float-making process, a student's father died of cancer.

"The students decided to dedicate the American Cancer Society's float to him," Farace says.

The American Red Cross float had images of Hurricane Katrina.

"The students' floats weren't just about having fun," Farace says. "They were about community spirit and contributing to that community. They were reinforcing their homecoming theme."

Vincent Douglas, a Willow Glen resident, says he and his family followed the day's events, starting with the parade. His favorite float was the Habitat for Humanity.

Douglas says the float was "impressive," and looks forward to next year's events.

"We have watched the homecoming festivities grow bigger and become a community event," he says.

San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias was impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the students.

"The floats touched on deep emotions and the kids put their hearts and souls into those floats," Iglesias says.

Bringing the different schools together was a great idea, he says.

"Homecoming is a sense of tradition and now the younger kids are involved in that tradition," he says. "It gives the community continuity, and a 'we're all in this together' feeling."

Iglesias believes these annual events strengthen the neighborhood's roots.

"With the pace of life that most people have now, these traditions are continued to make both kids and parents alike grounded and connected to their community," Iglesias says.

Elliot says the addition of the crafts fair and carnival, added features this year, was a smart move.

"It took people off the main street and back to the high school," Elliott says. "Sometimes people forget that the high school is even here because it's tucked away."

The fair was a success in every way, Willow Glen resident and craft fair's organizer Teri Kane said.

"We wanted the community to come to Willow Glen, stay and see the kids, the floats, and have fun," she says. "We want them to realize that this is a great school, one where their kids will feel at home, as well as be able to get a great education."

Added touch

The craft fair was put together by the Willow Glen Foundation, with a goal to increase the high school's visibility in the community.

The fair had 24 commercial vendors and approximately 10 school groups with carnival-style booths. There were elementary school booths that included Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet School's crazy hair; Schallenberger Elementary's ice cream sale; Willow Glen Elementary's jewelry making; and Booksin Elementary's button-making booth. These along with the old-fashioned high school kissing booth where individuals could kiss the high school's mascot for a small donation helped the school raise funds for its charities.

The high school Parent Teacher Association also raffled off a 60-pound pumpkin won by Schallenberger student Gretchen Rodenberger.

Foundation members considered the day an all-around success.

The music boosters raised more than $200, Willow Glen Foundation raised $600, the Associated Student Body's fish bowl booth raised $250, and the Athletic Boosters raised several thousand dollars, Kane says.

"We were very pleased all around with the event and are looking forward to doing it again next year, building on this year's success," Kane says.

Building Spirit: The Willow Glen High School homecoming parade included the junior class float, Habitat for Humanity. The idea behind the float was to raise community spirit, not just school spirit.