With Homecoming just around the corner, AHS’s Leadership class prepares to finalize preparations for this seasons events. Around this time last school year, preparations were being made for the annual bonfire and homecoming parade. This school year, events will be a little different due to the new turf field. New traditions are being introduced in place of these two events. Instead of the bonfire, Leadership students are introducing “Flick on the Field” which is a movie being played on the baseball field. This year’s Homecoming theme is The Wizard of Oz and the movie-in is a perfect way to kick off Homecoming week and the movie will be shown. Students will be given the opportunity to bring blankets and get comfy while watching the movie. “I think the movie night will be an awesome way to kick off Homecoming Week and get students excited about the theme and also give them a free event to come to. I think it will be something different, fun, and something a lot of students can attend,” Bartley said.

The week of Homecoming consists of various activities and events that lead up to the dance which will take place on October 24th from 8pm-11pm! Leadership students have been planning for the Homecoming Dance since the first day of school and with the dance drawing near, the last minute preparations are coming into effect. “For this year’s Homecoming Dance, we’re trying to be more organized and we’re also preparing all the decorations so that the day of Homecoming, we’re just putting up decorations,” Junior Tara El-Achi says. Since there will be a lot of walls to be decorated, Tara El-Achi, Head of Dance Committee, assigned two leadership students per wall to decorate the halls, jock lobby, and the gym. “The theme for this year’s dance is The Wizard of Oz and it will be much more different than previous years because we are having much more details and aspects from the movie to incorporate into decorations.” El-Achi said.  The spirit days are Lions, Tigers, Bears O’Monday, Twisted Twister Tuesday (Wacky Tacky Day), Which Witch Wednesday (Twin Day), Tired Toto Thursday (PJ Day), and lastly There’s a storm-a-coming Friday: Freshmen wear Red, Sophomores wear White, Juniors wear Black, and Seniors wear TOGAS. Spirit days help get students excited about the Homecoming dance and it is a great way to get the whole school involved. “I’m most excited about Which Witch Wednesday (Twin Day) because I’ll be twinning with my teammates.” Junior Mollie Valorose said.

Another new and exciting event taking place during Homecoming Week will be the Tailgate taking place right before the game from 4pm-6pm on the track field! In previous years, the Parade would usually take place and it would involve the Homecoming Court, Cheerleaders, Dance Team, Class Floats, and the Annandale Community. This year, Leadership students wanted to go for something that includes everyone and a way to bring the school and community together right before the Homecoming Game. “The Tailgate I’m also really excited about because we’re hoping to get more students involved that aren’t typically involved in the parade,” Bartley said. “Some clubs participated in the parade, but typically some students and clubs don’t come to watch or attend the parade. We’re hoping to get students excited about the game that will take place right after the Tailgate and give clubs and sports the opportunity to advertise. There will be fun activities, face painting, and food!” says Bartley. The tailgate is a new event at AHS and will be a great way to get students hyped for the game and bring the community together. “I think the tailgate will be a great way to bring more fans to the game and will add a fan friendly atmosphere.” Senior Beau Hatch said. AHS students are excited about having a tailgate before the game because it’s a better way to get everyone involved rather than a parade. “I think a tailgate really brings people together… it’s about having fun before a big event, with a parade, you just clap for the people walking by and there really isn’t much to it.” Senior Vincent Rollins says.  The preparations leading up to the tailgate have been reaching out to clubs so they can attend and advertising so that students and teachers can also attend. “This year’s tailgate will be different than previous events before the game because there will be booths by clubs instead of floats,” Junior Saad Farooq says. “We’ve been reaching out to various clubs and other organizations to get people to come out and participate. This year’s tailgate will be more successful because it will have more community involvement and our opponent school can also attend.” Farooq says. The tailgate will be taking place on the track field from 4pm-6pm and following the tailgate will be the Homecoming Game as the Atoms take on the South County Stallions!