Homecoming 2025 was a huge success. The event’s thoughtful execution and planning helped ensure enthusiasm and enjoyment across the student body. With this year marking only the second year of a semi-formal homecoming, expectations were high. The uncertainty of last year’s event helped set the standard for what this year’s could be—and it surpassed those expectations. Many factors led up to the success of this year’s homecoming. From location, formality, and school spirit, ASB worked hard to make this homecoming truly unforgettable.
Few students realize the level of dedication and intentionality ASB puts into planning homecoming. The creation of the event goes as such: planning of theme, location, participation, and execution. According to ASB members, this year’s theme—Hollywood—was easy to decide on. Pitches by small groups of ASB are presented and the theme that won this year was Hollywood. Like last year, this year’s homecoming dance was hosted on Conway Court, which helps distinguish the semi-formal homecoming from other school dances. When asked about the event’s location, Ms. Ruth Gomez, Associate Dean of Students, shared that her own senior homecoming dance was held in Duchesne Courtyard, during a time when SHP homecomings were not annual. In more recent years the homecoming location has jumped from one area of campus to another. In 2022, it was the Quad, then in 2023, it was the cafeteria. When viewing the success of having homecoming 2024 on Conway Court, Gomez said that “Conway is the way to go”.
School spirit leading up to homecoming was something unlike anything SHP had seen before. Aside from the dress-up days, the new integration of a pep rally and the coincidental timing of under the lights being the day before homecoming helped make students of all grades demonstrate enthusiasm and excitement for the dance. By having more participation from all grades of the school, homecoming strengthened the idea that it is for all grades, not just the freshman. As seen in previous years, not many upperclassmen have attended homecoming, so the participation of all grades made it crucial for homecoming to be a true community bonding experience. The spirit for this year’s homecoming sparked a push for SHP’s homecoming to resemble other local high schools.
The actual homecoming dance was well-decorated and lively. The final factor that made this year’s homecoming different from other years was the incorporation of a semi-formal theme. Both ASB and Gomez found that a semi-formal theme would be best since the winter formal and prom are already formal events. A semi-formal theme is the great in-between that ensures everyone has something to look forward to. This year’s homecoming truly set the tone for all annual homecomings, making SHP’s homecoming 2025 a great success.
