Next Wednesday, from 4 to 8 p.m, students from each class will gather next to the stadium to build and decorate their respective playhouses. Every year, class representatives gather together to build these playhouses, which they auction off to benefit their class charity. As Junior Class sponsor Ann Mayhew said, “It’s one of the biggest events during Homecoming week.”
Playhouse building is one of the main charity events that is organized by the class officers. According to Mayhew, building the playhouses, despite their small size, presents a formidable task.
“We build them first. They’re kits, but we build them,” Mayhew said. “Students have to shingle the roof, assemble and trim the walls and shingle the window boxes, then they decorate it.”
While there is definitely a lot of work to be done, the process is enjoyable, and the end result is undoubtedly worthwhile  according to Junior Class president Bobby Greaser.
“In four hours, we have to build and paint the whole playhouse,” Greaser said. “It’s tough but satisfying because the playhouse turns out very nice, and all the money we raise gets to go to a charity of our choosing.”
In addition to helping charity, the playhouses consistently feature unique and distinct designs; no two playhouses are the same. Last year presented an assortment of different themes, from the modern movie “Up” to the classic fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” from one with a “Sesame Street” theme to one that looked like it had been made from Legos.
Unlike the former floats that were scrapped after Homecoming, playhouses are auctioned off and kept by individuals. After the playhouses are completed, people are able to bid for them. Historically, bids range anywhere from around $400 to  $800, and the total amount  raised  is  well over $2,000. The classes choose various charities that the money made from the playhouses will benefit. There are goals, too.  “This year we are hoping to get at least $600 for our playhouse which is a bit more than what we got last year,” Greaser said.
While many people tend to overlook some events during the week of Homecoming, the playhouse should not be one of them Greaser said.
“It’s the one where the class really comes together as a team,” he said. “It’s fun to build houses, good to see what artists we have from our class, a great way for people from every class to showcase their skills and it’s just a fun event for everybody to come out to.”