By Ella Fortine, Staff Writer
Hear what the class of 2026 says about their last, and for some first, Homecoming Dance
Saturday, October 4th kicked off this year’s Homecoming week with the dance and the announcement of the top ten Homecoming Royalty nominees. The theme of this year’s homecoming was “Level Up”, with the subthemes for each class being Mario Kart for seniors, Minecraft for juniors, Pac-Man for sophomores, and Candy Crush for freshmen. Students are able to show off their class theme on the dance floor by dressing up to represent their specific game. A few students went all out in creative costumes, but as with most homecoming dances in recent history, most went in casual attire. Senior and nominee for Music Tech, Amanda Gibson, commented that it would be more fun “if the dance was more formal”, echoing the sentiment that many students have about the dance dress code. Gibson appreciated the changes to the homecoming dance over the years, mentioning the addition of free refreshments. The homecoming dance also serves to announce the top ten nominees for the homecoming king and queen. As a representative of her club, Gibson espoused her appreciation for the opportunity to be a nominee, saying that “you only get to be a nominee once”.
Samuel Beaumon, attending his first homecoming dance as a senior, thought the dance would be more fun off campus. Exemplifying the homecoming dress code revolution that seems sure to take hold, Beaumon was dressed in a full suit for the occasion. Despite ways students would hope to up the ante, many enjoyed the dance. Luella Berg (12) said she “wouldn’t change anything” and that this dance was a lot better than past years. As the quizzes and homework assignments pile up, the homecoming dance offers a night of music and fun that kickstarts a week full of Poly pride. Whatever changes may come, the dance is a staple of the high school experience.