Last weekend was the fall dance, also known as Homecoming. Homecoming is an
annual dance for high school students around the United States, and the history behind
this celebration dates back to the early 1900s. At first, it was meant for only college and
high school alumni to school spirit in order to reconnect with one another; now,
it’s collectively considered a high school celebration rather than an alumni celebration. It’s
usually followed by a pep rally and dance, where the dance includes a DJ, photo booth,
snacks, and semi-formal to formal wear. Homecoming is a symbol for coming back to
school and reconnecting with classmates, reflecting Austin Prep’s core value of Unitas.
The attire for the occasion is formal; girls usually wear short dresses. The majority
of the dresses came from Windsor, which is the top place to get dressed for these kinds of
events. The dress colors range from the lightest yellow to the darkest blue. Blue was a
popular color among the dresses. Some of the boys wore suits and blazers, and others
wore button-down polos. They range in color and are paired with ties.
Music is different every year, but some major songs that were played were:
Milkshake by Kelis and Doot Doot (6 7) by Skrilla. There were a lot of outstanding songs
like Justin Bieber’s Baby and Beauty and the Beat, and Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex. It’s safe
to say that AP knows good music and good fits.
We decided to interview a couple of people. Our first interview was with Taylor
Sweeney, class of 2029. She really liked the design and set up, especially the glowsticks.
We also interviewed Avery Balfe, class of 2029. She really liked the food as well as the
decor. Collectively, people who were asked all had mostly positive responses to
homecoming.
Some people had opinions on how to make it better for the years to come. One idea was
to have two photobooths instead of one because the lines were too long. Another was to
have seating. Though it comes down to the school, whether it is a good idea.
To conclude, homecoming is a core memory in high school. It shows how we as a
school can come together as one and celebrate. Homecoming is more than just outfits and
dates. It is a symbol and more.
