Palestine, Frankston showcase school pride with homecoming mums

Sep. 18—They say everything is bigger in Texas, Palestine and Frankston high schools have certainly proven that with their giant 2024 Homecoming mums.

Palestine High School's student council, with the help of construction teacher Matthew Gray, created a 30-foot mum. Students at Frankston High School built a 15 feet and 5 inch mum.

Palestine High School Student Council Sponsor Michelle Mason said it was Public Relation Director Larissa Loveless' idea to create the massive mum for homecoming week at their school.

"We went and purchased some things and borrowed some things and then I got student council members together and we got the construction teacher and his crew on it and we just started," Mason said. "Matthew Gray looked at me at first and said, 'What do you want?' I told him again and he was like 'O.K.' We had several laughs and then once I sent the examples, he was all in. We had a little snafu on our end with directions and then he sent some of his boys to come touch it up and fix it. He was a tremendous help, and so were his kids."

Mason said approximately 150 students and construction team members worked on the giant mum. They began by building the base and the top of the mum, followed by the design of the chains and fabric, to hanging Christmas balls and flowers to create the finished product.

Mason said they started the project Monday, Sept. 9 and finished Friday, Sept. 13 with the maintenance team hanging it in the cafeteria at the high school.

"I gave each group of kids jobs and gave them freedom to come up with ideas of their own," Mason said. "They had some great ideas."

Mason said a project of this nature definitely made the school spirit stronger.

"The school spirit, with the laughter and the kids dancing and talking, made this a really fun activity for the student body," she said. "So many kids came in and looked at it, and asked about it. It was really fun for them, and something I hope they won't ever forget making."

Frankston High School's mum was a project created by the Practicum of Agriculture/PlantScience Pathway Class.

"Since we have these students for multiple periods a day in class, it was nice for my students to come in and begin working on a project," Frankston Agriculture Teacher Kaitlin Webb said. "The goal for this course is for the students to take everything they have learned in the Plant Science Pathway Class — Greenhouse, Floral Design, Advanced Floral Design — and apply it in a variety of ways throughout their time in practicum courses."

She said with Frankston ISD's homecoming being a big event in the area, the time was perfect to work on this project.

She said they had 15 Floral, Advanced Floral and Practicum students working on the mum.

"There were some moments when the students needed some advice and a little help from me, but for the most part, the students drove the success of this project," Webb said. "During this process all Floral, Advanced Floral and Practicum students built their own personal mums as well as completing orders from families in elementary, middle school and other high school students. We are really proud of these students and the work they put into this."

"I know it is a huge time and money commitment," said Mason. "I saw the one that Frankston did and loved it. I thought some of their chains were great ideas. I love seeing all of the different personalities that came out in their decorations."