Fans sitting toward the top of the bleachers at the Kearns High stadium were treated to a double show during halftime last week.

As the school’s marching band, dance company, cheerleaders, and drill team performed on the field, fireworks could be seen off in the distance to the northeast. The spectacle was an added bonus to the Cougars’ impressive homecoming win that evening.

Little did many Kearns students and alumni know that the fireworks were being set off from the grounds at crosstown rival Granger High School during the Lancers’ homecoming. Even further removed from Cougar minds was the spectacle at Olympus High, where players scoring touchdowns placed the ball on a chair sitting in the endzone in honor of former principal Mark Manning, who died of cancer a few days prior to the game.

These days homecoming means a lot more than football games. For many communities a homecoming parade is a major highlight of the year, and daily activities stir school spirit for multiple groups. These events elicit pride not only in our schools, but also in the respective communities as a whole.

Perhaps the most delightful scenes are of alumni and current/future students gathered together to support the team representing the school they love. It’s very common to see multiple generations of students seated next to each other cheering on the home squad.

We are pleased to take part every year in celebrating the rich history of our schools in Granite School District, many of which have been around for more than half a century. Our current and future students stand on the shoulders of previous students and staff who helped mold schools into what they are today.