Westfield Academy and Central School students are illuminated by a bonfire behind the athletic field as part of Spirit Week.
The north and south sides of Main Street in Westfield were lined with people Oct. 3 for a small but very significant event — the annual Westfield Academy and Central School Homecoming parade.
The parade is a traditional part of Spirit Week at WACS and, although it is brief, community support for the parade and the school are strong. This year’s parade was followed by a bonfire behind the school athletic field, an activity which has often been a part of Spirit Week.
Secondary Principal Corey Markham said Spirit Week helps the students identify with the school and with the community. “For example, our seniors wear togas on one of the theme days of Spirit Week — a Westfield tradition,” he said. “We brought back the bonfire to help today’s students connect with the past.”
According to Markham, there is not technically a WACS homecoming game, but the Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton Eagles competed against Eden/North Collins Friday night in a game that will long be remembered. The Eagles were victorious with a 49-6 victory.
Markham said continuing traditions and making memories is what Spirit Week is all about. “The most positive result of the week is its memories,” he said. “I hope each student walks away with at least one good memory that they will recall 25 to 40 years from now.”
Westfield Academy and Central School seniors received strong support from the community during the homecoming parade along Main street.
The traditional celebrations and practices of building school spirit were observed this year, according to Markham. “We had the usual theme days for Spirit Week – dress like an actor/actress, decades day, dress formal day, class t-shirt day, etc., with slight modifications to the themes for middle school and the elementary students,” he said.
Markham said the students really immerse themselves in the events of the week. “We always have great participation amongst our students,” he said. “Through high school student council, they have an opportunity to provide input/ suggestions on the Spirit Week activities.”
While allegiance to the school is important, according to Markham, all of the activities are really about the students realizing they are part of a community. “At the end of a student’s time at Westfield, it’s important to me that we are graduating students that, regardless of where they go and set down their roots and start their own families, that they are good neighbors,” he said.
Markham went on to say that he hopes WACS graduates are the type of adults who are willing to help others throughout their lives. “Our society needs more of those neighbors that help shovel out a person’s driveway after a snowstorm, a neighbor who sees you struggling with your ladder to get on the roof and is willing to drop what they are doing to help you,” he said. ”