In celebration of Homecoming (Hoco) week, the library transformed into a hub of ribbons, hot glue and Texas traditions. The event turned what is usually a solo project into a shared, inclusive experience for students during den.

The library’s “mum-making DEN” was led by librarian Keri Burns and offered students a chance to craft their own mums and decorate their senior overalls. It was an opportunity to help those who may not know where to start or want to enjoy the process together.

“The mums were actually [assistant principal Tereasa]  Back’s idea,” Burns said. “She saw it on TikTok or Instagram and thought if they can do it [at other schools], we can do it here. We wanted to make it more of a fun group activity instead of sitting at home making it by yourself.”

Teachers played a role in the project by donating ribbons, flowers and leftover materials from previous homecoming events. Students also participated by bringing their own supplies to share and utilize in the project.

“For mums, to buy all the stuff to make your own from scratch is really expensive,” Burns said. “But if everybody has a couple of little things to offer and then everybody kind of makes it a group activity and shares, then the cost is divided and the fun is multiplied.”

The library has hosted creative opportunities before, including senior overall decorating, but this marks the first time mum-making has been offered to the entirety of the school. By combining resources, the library aims to lower barriers to participation and encourage collaboration among students.

“This will undoubtedly become a tradition considering the numerous students who joined us,” senior and student body president Emilya Garza said. “On our first day, we had 15 to 20 students. They have the opportunity to create mums for themselves and also for their fellow students. Hopefully, next year they can expand.”

Student Council officers collaborated closely with the library to organize and guide participants through each step of the process. Senior worked on arranging colorful ribbons and printing iron-on letters for overalls.

“I think that’s so amazing because a lot of people struggle with making their overalls,” senior and class Vice President Valerie Hall said. “It’s so cool that you can print out the letters and iron them on. It looks really nice and clean too. It’s such a nice experience because all your friends come and they help you make mums.”

For students unfamiliar with the tradition or unsure how to make a mum, Burns and the Student Council intended for the session to provide guidance and promote wearing mums during HOCO week.

“I believe that activities like this significantly enhance the excitement surrounding homecoming,” Garza said. “Especially considering that many students don’t participate in spirit week, wear a mum or a garter on Friday or create their senior overalls because they lack a place to do so. By creating a space where kids feel included, we can foster an environment where all students are eager to participate.

Looking ahead, Burns hopes to expand future homecoming activities, possibly finding new ways to include alumni or create more opportunities for hands-on projects throughout the year.

“I think doing the senior overall [DEN] bigger would be great,” Burns said. “Maybe next year we could find a way for the guys to get involved or open it up even more. We started small this year to see how much fun we could have, but we’ll see.”