More than just Spirit: A Homecoming Perspective

By Tomnia Valentine and Mai Xiong

The Homecoming Rally is one of the biggest rallies of the year. Students pack the stands, loud and ready for school spirit, nominating the Top 5 homecoming king and queens, bringing creativity, happiness, and suspense all around campus. 

Homecoming gives students a chance to show their school pride and create memories with their classmates.

One of the biggest parts of homecoming is the rally, where students perform, cheer, and participate in activities to build excitement for the week and the big game.

Homecoming has been a tradition for years. It provides better insight into the school’s spirit. 

Mr. Siquieros, two-year ASB teacher, said, “Each year you want the spirit to be a little bit bigger and better, but just the anticipation of Homecoming week, it’s always there; we’ll be there to make sure it’s a little bit more extra so more students could feel the energy and want to be connected.”

From spirited dress-up days and energetic rallies to parades and the big football game, homecoming brings students and the community together to celebrate their school.

As ASB commissioner, Ava Dodson, ’28, said, “I feel like homecoming last year was so good, but there were times students didn’t feel really connected. This year, my goal is to find ways to include more students to feel involved. For example, at the first rally, we tried to do games that include lots of people, making them feel involved.”

While many students look forward to the excitement and traditions, homecoming has a long history that has helped shape the celebration into what it is today. 

Redwood High School has been participating in this event for over 70 years. Though the usual large parade has been reconstructed for this year, traditions are still being passed down. 

Another ASB student, Audrina Prado, ’30, said, “The main tradition we’ve passed down so far is [the] luncheon, where all the nominees have lunch together and get to know each other that day; they push out the advertisement for king and queen. We have a football game, surprises, and a rally!”

Redwood formed a huge rally incorporating multiple clubs, sports, and school spirits.

The rallies are usually themed with past events drawing inspiration from popular movies, superheroes, television shows, and other forms of pop culture, allowing students to showcase their creativity and school spirit.

Prado said, “I think that homecoming has really similar events and has passed down the same idea. I think every year is somewhat different due to the theme. For example, last year’s theme was Barbie; the year before that was Super Mario, which was really cool; and before that, it was Hollywood.” 

With the Marvel theme, students are able to express their own opinions on superheroes and movies while also showing their different strengths. 

Dance Force and Varsity Cheer have been allowed to participate in the Homecoming Rally, but it felt different for everyone. 

Michela Pasquini, ’27, said,  “To me, homecoming really just means a chance to show all of your school pride, and on the sidelines for ‘Dance Force’ throughout the week, it really just gives a fun and good representation of the school. Homecoming also shows what it is like for each class as well as how everyone celebrates in different ways […] I have been on dance force for three years, and I am now starting my fourth year. We always perform at the rallies, and it is super fun, especially for homecoming because all of the nominees are on the side, and it is just a little bit more support and energy.”

Homecoming rallies are a vibrant part of school spirit, bringing students, teachers, and staff together for a week of excitement.

Mackenzie Collins, ’30, said, “I would say the significance of homecoming is that it’s mainly for tradition, but it also brings students together to be one unified school in an even greater way. It can also be more of a social event; I feel like homecoming is a chance to show off different talents during rallies, parades, and football games.”

This year’s Homecoming theme still involves the same traditions as in past years, with nominating the top five homecoming kings and queens, decorations being over the top, and encouraging everyone to participate, making the celebration memorable. 

Each year, there’s a desire to amplify the spirit, making it bigger and better than the last. 

While the specific elements of homecoming might change from year to year, the underlying spirit of a school rally remains constant. 

Tags: clubs & lifestyles, homecoming, rally, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, visalia ca