Homecoming kits highlight school spirit

For the last week, priceless memories of student athletes at Whitefish High School have been on display on custom-made homecoming posters lining the halls.  

Since 2003, Kathy Price has been the creative mind behind the posters, building individualized homecoming decoration kits to hang on lockers and school walls for high schoolers across Flathead Valley. 

“When I first started I had about four posters. Now I have... well, you can never have too many,” Price said. “We do them for all the schools in the valley, including Bigfork and Stillwater Christian, and we’re adding Polson too.” 

Over the years, with help from parents, thousands of posters have been created. The goal for Price is for every student to have a personalized poster. 

“What I love about the homecoming kits is that they allow me to be creative and it allows every kid to be included. Sometimes I work with the coaches or the parents to make sure that everyone is included. 

“I like making the kids feel special and making it custom cut and unique for every single kid. It’s one thing to go to a store and buy something that says ‘Bulldogs.’ It’s another thing to create something that says Chance, #22, Whitefish soccer,” Price said.  

Price, 53, graduated from Columbia Falls in 1989. Price and her husband Darin have four grown children — Tori, Jack, Katie and Josh.  

Kathy Price had a scrapbooking storefront on Montana 40 but closed it in 2019 to shift things online.  

“My mom had the store my whole childhood, and I started to help out when I was old enough, cashiering, stocking inventory. When the store closed in 2019, I helped move everything online. In 2021, I started doing more with the decorations and kits, but she still does a lot,” said Kathy’s daughter, Katie Price, who looks to continue the business as a part of Kathy’s legacy.  

Several years ago, Price was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer with metastases in her brain, neck and chest lymph nodes. She was given six months to live, but today she’s still holding strong with over 1,000 “bonus days.”  

“A lot of people know my health journey, and every year they’re like, ‘Are you still doing the kits?’ I appreciate that they care and are invested in me, but I want people to know that this will continue regardless. If I don’t win my battle, Katie will take over,” Kathy Price said. 

Katie Price, who played softball, soccer and basketball at Columbia Falls and graduated in 2016, said that looking to the future, her goal is to do decorations in more schools across Montana and that they’re working on being able to ship products.  

“But we really want to stay in the community here too, because that’s my favorite part – I love supporting the local athletes, and it’s fun to stay involved with the up-and-comers,” Katie Price said.  

Both Kathy and Katie Price aim for the kits to be accessible.  

“They’re affordable at $20 and easy and fun for parents to help customize. We take the hard part out it. It really allows a parent who might not be as creative to make something look good when we do it all together,” said Kathy Price. 

Katie Price said that Whitefish High School parents are awesome to work with, because parents take the lead in hanging up the decorations and help place orders for whole teams at a time. 

Whitefish High School Principal Kerry Drown said that “the signs are a part of the master design of the homecoming week for us in terms of building culture and community. They are evidence of kids and families feeling connected to their school and activities.” 

“It’s really awesome what my mom has done cultivating this in the community, and I’m just grateful to continue this on as a part of her legacy,” Katie Price said. 

For now, Kathy’s spirit stays strong. “This last Wednesday after I had treatment, things were looking okay, so I just got in my car and left to find an adventure... I am a wild spirit,” Kathy Price said. 

The website is priceless-scrapbooks.com.

    A section of a wall at Whitefish High School is covered with volleyball posters created by Price's scrapbooking business. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Part of the wall of cross country's homecoming posters at Whitefish High School (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Homecoming decorations by Kathy Price's priceless scrapbooks. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)