Greeting students with high-fives as they enter school is part of the new program aimed at instilling Grizzly spirit at a young age.
Mariposa County High School Grizzly Football and Cheer recently wrapped up the school-visit portion of its inaugural Future Friday Nights program, bringing high school students to local elementary campuses to build relationships, create excitement and show younger students that they are already an important part of the Grizzly family.
MCHS football players and cheerleaders visited Mariposa Elementary School on Sept. 9 and Woodland Elementary School on Sept. 18. The visits support the football program’s new vision, “One County, One Team,” emphasizing that Grizzly Football represents more than just the students currently wearing green and gold on Friday nights — it represents the entire Mariposa County community.
Future Friday Nights was designed to connect younger students with positive high school role models and help them begin building a connection to Mariposa County High School long before they become high school students themselves.
During the campus visits, football players and cheerleaders welcomed students to school with high fives and Grizzly spirit before spending the morning participating in activities with different grade levels.
Celina Heard is shown with Trace DeSandres talking about the new program. Heard is the brainchild behind Future Friday Nights.
Younger students had opportunities to read with the high school students, complete Grizzly-themed activities and spend time getting to know the players and cheerleaders. Older students participated in PE, recess activities, games and challenges alongside the MCHS students.
While the activities were fun, the larger purpose was building relationships.
For the elementary students, the visits provided an opportunity to meet high school students they may see under the Friday night lights. For the MCHS athletes and cheerleaders, Future Friday Nights provided an opportunity to serve as role models and give back to the schools and community that helped many of them get their own start.
The connections will continue through the Future Friday Nights Pen Pal Program. Participating elementary students will exchange letters with MCHS football players and cheerleaders, sharing information about themselves, asking questions and receiving responses from their high school Grizzly pen pals.
The goal is to turn a single school visit into an ongoing connection between younger students and their future high school community.
Future Friday Nights also extends to MCHS home football games. TK–8 students have opportunities throughout the season to participate in special Future Friday Nights activities, including meeting players after games in the High Five Zone, participating in halftime activities and earning recognition for attending Grizzly home games.
The hope is that when these students eventually arrive at Mariposa County High School, Friday nights — and the people wearing green and gold — will already feel familiar.
Just as importantly, the program gives current MCHS students an opportunity to understand the influence they can have beyond the football field or sidelines. A high five, a book read together, a game at recess or a handwritten letter can make a lasting impression on a younger student.
Future Friday Nights represents what “One County, One Team” is intended to mean: connecting schools, students and generations throughout Mariposa County. The first Future Friday Nights school visits may be complete, but the relationships created through the program are just beginning.
Future Friday Nights was created by MCHS graduate Celina Heard, who is currently a student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Experience Industry Management.
Heard developed the program as a way to give back to her hometown while creating meaningful experiences that strengthen the connection between MCHS, its younger students and the greater Mariposa community.
Her work on Future Friday Nights brings the program full circle — a former Grizzly helping create opportunities and memories for the next generation of Grizzlies.
TK-8 students can sign up for a T-shirt, free admission and halftime activities at
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