Palisade High School’s 2013 Homecoming Parade had two new
looks last September.
With
lights flashing on the pink “Delaney” fire truck, and music from the PHS band
wafting behind, the Parade Marshall Diana Vera wore a tiara while waving and
smiling to the crowd.
Both entries in the parade
symbolize how the community and school show their care, respect and honor of
others.
The Delaney fire truck is on loan
to be used by each of the fire departments in Mesa County to remind people of
the awareness of families struggling with the effects of cancer, and to raise
money to help them. Palisade had the truck for three events: Wine Festival,
last Farmers’ Market and now for the PHS Homecoming Parade.
The Parade Marshall’s selection is
given to a school personnel or community person to honor his/her efforts at
Palisade High.
This year Dianna Vera, long time
Spanish and now International Baccalaureate program teacher, was not expecting
her selection.
“Usually it goes to someone who has
retired,” she said humbly.
“And the crown was a nice gift from
some former students,” she admitted with a smile.
She wore it proudly in the parade
with her PHS sweatshirt, and when she walked on the football field to be
honored at Saturday’s game.
Dianna Vera almost didn’t come back
to school this fall.
She had a rough summer break due to
some major medical issues. After 18 years at Palisade High, this was the first
time that she started the year part time instead of full time.
This conscientious, dedicated
instructor worried about her Spanish I and II and IB students starting out the
school year without her full attention and preparation.
“I came back full time just before
Parent-Teacher Conferences, Sept. 12. I got to know my kids before I talked to
their parents,” she said.
“My kids.” That’s the way Dianna
Vera feels about all of her students. She creates a personal connection with
each individual in her classes. She cares, and her students, past and present,
respond to her attention.
Two weeks ago Dianna was selected by
the student body to be this year’s Homecoming Parade Marshall.
“I was so surprised when Dave Carlo
(Student Government Sponsor) came into my classroom and told me the news,” she
said.
Within days two PHS graduates from
last year, Pantha Grasser and Emilee Castleton, had lunch with her.
Excited about Ms Vera’s honor, the two Colorado Mesa
University students decided that they were going to get her a tiara to wear at
Homecoming.
“I thought they were joking, so I said
I wanted amethysts on it because that
would look good
with my silver hair,” she laughed remembering that statement. “Don’t spend your
money to buy one,” she told them seriously.
They surprised her in her classroom
with a hand-crafted silver filigreed crown, not tiny but tall tiara size,
covered by purple stones.
Dianna Vera loved her homecoming
crown from her students, and appreciated the special honor of being the
Homecoming Parade Marshall this year.
