This year, Meridian is bringing a new level of excitement to its Homecoming celebrations. In the past, the student body hasn’t shown much enthusiasm for the event, but the administration is working to change that by encouraging more school spirit.
Efforts to boost school pride include introducing fun dress-up themes, promoting the Homecoming games and dance, and even launching a new event—the Homecoming parade.
For many high schools, Homecoming is a major event, spanning an entire week full of decorations, energy, and school pride. However, Meridian’s lack of a football team and fewer athletic programs make it more challenging to follow traditional Homecoming formats. While other schools often center their Homecoming around football, Meridian showcases its volleyball team similarly.
Varsity volleyball player, Lauren Ramert shared, “Traditionally, Homecoming revolves around football, but since we attend a smaller school, it’s more about the spirit behind the games. I think the volleyball team does a great job bringing that spirit, which helps make Homecoming more enjoyable.”
This year, Meridian has focused on two key events to increase Homecoming excitement: the parade and the pep rally. Although pep rallies are common, this year the school has encouraged students to embrace traditions like wearing mums and garters. Additionally, there has been a greater effort to decorate the campus and promote the activities planned for the week.
Charlotte Whitaker, a senior, observed, “I’ve seen more people get involved this year than ever before. More students are excited about making mums, and many have signed up to attend the dance. The energy around Homecoming as a whole, is stronger this year.”
The week will feature the Homecoming dance, held on Saturday. With all the added spirit and activities leading up to it, students are hopeful the dance will have a higher turnout and an even livelier atmosphere.
While Meridian may not have a football team, or the typical Homecoming football game, this year’s effort to make Homecoming special has certainly paid off, bringing more energy and excitement to the event than ever before.
