Homecoming creates lasting memories all week long. From freshmen experiencing high school for the first time to seniors for the last time, the excitement builds up throughout the week from the homecoming barbecue, theme days, and the pep rally. This year’s homecoming week began on September 7th, and the theme was Teen Beach.
Freshman Kyerstin Blacketer said, “I was looking forward to seeing what homecoming was like from a high schooler perspective rather than a middle school perspective, and they were very different. In middle school, you get to watch the parade and dress up for the theme days, but you don't get to go to the homecoming barbecue, decorate the hallways, or go to the dance.”
For seniors, homecoming is full of lasts: last dress-up week, last hallway decorating contest, and last barbecue.
Senior Cammy Robeson said, “I am sad that this is my last homecoming, but I have made so many memories through the years with my friends, and I will cherish them forever.”
Students gathered on Monday to celebrate their Labor Day by decorating their hallways and enjoying the homecoming Barbecue. One difference this year was that the barbecue was held inside the school gym because of the heat.
Throughout the week, students were given theme days to show their Louisville pride. The theme days consisted of dress as your Younger self, Meme Day, Surfer vs. Biker, and Lion Pride. Blacketer and Robeson both agree that their favorite theme day was Surfer vs. Biker because more people participated in dressing up.
Many exciting events happened on Friday, like the parade, pep rally, and the football game. High school and middle school sports walked down Main Street while the rest of the school, including elementary, lined up to watch the parade. Afterwards, the whole school met in the bleachers on the football field to watch and participate in the pep rally.
The seniors and kindergarteners lined up on opposite end zones to walk and meet at the 50-yard line. The seniors gave the kindergarteners cards filled with encouragement they had written.
“I really liked having the feeling of slight importance to the little kids, even if they didn't fully understand what all of it meant. I felt happy doing it because of how they beamed at the fact a big kid gave them a card. It just makes me smile. It’s definitely a memory I'll keep forever; it felt like a mighty, proper goodbye to school,” senior Lason Hoo said.
Following the walk were the cheer and dance performances.
“I love performing during the pep rally because our elementary school gets to watch, and it is crazy that that was the last homecoming pep rally I would perform at,” Robeson said.
After those performances, the high school student council took charge and planned competitions for the students and teachers, like table surfing, dressing the teachers, eating relay, and balloon pop challenge.
After school, members of the student council, dance, and cheer teams decorated the gym for the next day’s dance. The gym was filled with lights and beach balls, waiting for the students to come the next day.
“I loved being able to see all my friends dressed up and in a different environment than usual. It was fun to dance the night away with my friends and enjoy the time making memories,” Blacketer said.