As autumn settles in at McCaskey, students are preparing for another Homecoming filled with school spirit, dancing, and time with friends. This year’s celebration, however, will bring a change in where students gather.
McCaskey is moving the event from the Marriott hotel back to the J.P. Gym. Food trucks will be set up outdoors, along with other activities students can choose from. McCaskey principal Dr. Reese stated that McCaskey made the switch as part of “cost-effective measures to keep the prices low for students.” Dr. Reese said these measures will save tens of thousands of dollars. Thus, McCaskey will be able to continue spending on graduation and prom while also focusing funding on other events, as per Dr. Reese. As a result, McCaskey was able to expand Homecoming activities to the outdoor fields, including food trucks.
Dr. Reese expects the J.P. Gym experience to be similar to the Marriott, stating that “It’s gonna look the very same. So if you’re used to the Marriott dance floor, it’s gonna look the exact same way, the same DJ, same lighting setup. It’ll be hard to even notice that it’s any different.” Though Dr. Reese stated that the experience is to be the same as it was at the Marriott, McCaskey junior Rocco Schenck feels that this year’s Homecoming is “probably not going to be as cool.” On the other hand, McCaskey senior and member of the Homecoming court Anira Goldston-Acvecedo argues that she is “Still excited. Like, I don’t think the location overall really matters that much when you’re having fun with a lot of people you love.”
Beyond the location switch, students have a lot to look forward to at Homecoming. This can include, but is not limited to, dancing, singing, eating, or even just time to hang out with friends. Anira looks forward to Homecoming because, to her, “I think it feels like a last hurrah to my time at McCaskey. I’m really excited to finally have these last couple moments with my friends before going off to college.” To McCaskey junior Rowan Seuffert, he looks forward to Homecoming because he gets the opportunity to “Get dressed up. Like, it’s an excuse to look good.”
Homecoming may mean different things to different students. McCaskey sophomore Noah Orozco-Parra appreciates the more relaxed rules than in the classroom, arguing that, to him, Homecoming means “A nice collection where everyone just gets to be themselves and not have to worry about all the school rules.” To Anira, Homecoming means “Having fun, seeing a lot of people and just engaging with my community a lot more.”
McCaskey’s Homecoming holds different meanings for different students. For Anira, it comes down to “our diversity. I think the playlist that we play every year is a huge hurrah to that, and it’s just really cool to see a lot of people from all walks of life dance to the same type of music,” or, for Noah, “interconnectedness, like what people always say, like the cheesy term everyone says, McCaskey pride.” McCaskey’s Homecoming is a special event that welcomes all students. In the end, McCaskey students can look forward to a new type of Homecoming—one where the celebration and meaning remain, but come back home to the J.P. gym.
