Dear Windber Families,
I want to take a moment to provide an update regarding our upcoming Homecoming festivities and football game. After careful consideration, I have made the decision to keep these events as planned. While there is an ongoing investigation involving members of the football team, it is important to remember that the vast majority of our students have done nothing wrong. I do not want to take away opportunities from students who have worked hard, shown pride in our school, and earned the right to participate in Homecoming festivities.
This includes our cheerleaders, the band, our Art students, and the many other students across our high school who have poured their time and energy into Homecoming week. In addition, I recognize how much effort, time, and money families have already invested in the Homecoming dance. It would not be fair to punish the entire high school for the actions of a few.
One part of Homecoming, however, has been affected by circumstances outside of our control. As many of you know, Somerset County has issued a burn ban. We worked closely with local officials and formally requested permission to move forward with the bonfire and fireworks. Unfortunately, our three separate requests were denied. While we are disappointed, we fully understand and respect their decision, as the safety of our community must always come first. Please know that we did all we could to make these traditions possible this year.
In addition, we explored the possibility of hosting the parade and carnival in downtown Windber. Unfortunately, we were denied because it can take up to 30 days to secure the proper permissions, and there simply was not enough time to meet those requirements. Due to this, we have decided to relocate the Homecoming carnival to the Windber Recreation Park. The parade will continue as originally planned.
Here are the updated details:
- The parade will start at 6:00 pm on Thursday, October 2. The parade route will still go through downtown Windber. We will start at the High School, go down Somerset Avenue, turn left on 15th Street, and back up Graham Avenue and return to the High School.
- Immediately following the parade, the cars hosting the Court will pull up in front of the Hall and drop off the students. This is a chance to get pictures. Once inside, the court will be announced formally at 7:00 pm.
- Families will park in the pool parking lot, and then the baseball field parking lots will be used for overflow..
- Outside the Grand Hall, we will host our carnival with inflatables, games, and activities. There will also be axe-throwing and a mechanical bull for students.
- Food and drinks (hot dogs and hamburgers) will be available for all in attendance.
- Several student groups will also host fundraisers during the evening, and we encourage you to support their efforts.
I also recognize that there are many questions surrounding the ongoing investigation involving the football team. As Superintendent, I want to assure you that I will communicate as much as I am able to throughout this process. However, schools are bound by strict privacy and confidentiality laws, which means we cannot share individual details. Please understand that we will adhere to these laws as the process moves forward, while also ensuring that we address matters with the seriousness and fairness they deserve. This means adhering to the PA School Code as well as the rules and regulations contained in the District’s policies, procedures, and handbooks. We are working with local law enforcement agencies and other agencies on this matter.
At the same time, I want to remind everyone that we have a tremendous number of students who come to school every day, do their job, and work hard. They deserve our time, attention, and celebration as well. Let’s all come together to celebrate the goodness in our school and community and to show our students just how proud we are of them.
Finally, I strongly encourage families not to rely on social media as their source of information about these matters. While it’s common for people to share their thoughts and opinions online, the posts made there are not always accurate or complete. For the most reliable updates, please look to the District’s official communications, where we are committed to keeping you informed with timely and factual information to the extent of the law.
Even without the bonfire and fireworks, we still have so much to look forward to—the parade, carnival, football game, and dance—all of which will provide our students, families, and community a chance to celebrate together. I encourage everyone to come out, support our kids, and show the pride and spirit that make Windber such a special place.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and our community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael J. Vuckovich
Superintendent
Windber Area School District