Homecoming week ran from September 15-20, with students and staff participating in a variety of events. The Student Council Association (SCA) started work in June to organize this year’s events, which ranged from dress-up themes and the pep rally to the carnival, the parade, and the  dance. 

This year’s Homecoming theme “Fly Away to Rio” was chosen after each group of the SCA Members came up with ideas, filmed videos for each theme, and then voted on their favorites. The top three favorites were sent to the school at-large, and students voted on Schoology to decide on the final theme. 

Spirit Week started with students participating in dress-up days. Many arrived in their comfy airport attire on Monday and continued with tropical, World Cup, camo and class color days..

The annual Homecoming Parade happened on September 19. The parade ran from Willard Middle School to Lightridge High School. This year featured a carnival outside the stadium gates,with bounce houses, obstacle courses, food trucks, kids’ games, and other activities. 

Following the parade, the varsity football team played in the homecoming game, losing to Potomac Falls 26-20.  The “Fly Away to Rio” Homecoming Dance was on Saturday, with  approximately 900 students attending.

SCA prepped for months prior to the event. 

“The most fun part of planning has been making posters, hanging out with people, and really seeing our vision come to life,” said Senior Class President, Nicole Almeida. “The hardest part has definitely been shifting from planning the dance in the gym to planning it in the cafeteria because it’s a whole different area and ball game.”

Junior Class Vice President Lizzie Yang agreed that the change in location for the dance was challenging.

 “The hardest part is seeing what decorations we want and how we want to execute things in the logistics of it,” said Yang. “There’s a lot that goes into it.”