Homecoming week is a yearly tradition that is celebrated in high schools all around the United States. Originally created as a way to rally the students of a school around a specific football game, it was aptly named the Homecoming game. 

The general idea of the event is to have a football game where all alumni and past students are welcome to attend. This first began with an attempt from the University of Illinois to improve their disappointing win-loss record during a season in the early 1900’s. 

However, alongside a football game, there are various other festivities held as well, with  the most popular being the Homecoming dance. This tradition in many ways is very similar to a high school prom, but rather than being held in the spring, typically takes place around the start of fall. These dances also include live music or host a DJ, and are often extravagantly decorated, usually planned by the student government. 

While the game may have originated the event, the associated dance has become the most important part of the week for most students. Because of this shift in focus from the game to the dance, Homecoming traditions have become much more of a student associated event than an alumni focused one.

In many places, Homecoming week does not only consist of a football game and a dance. While it’s much less common than it used to be, Homecoming week may also include an arrangement of games and meals shared among alumni and current students. However, these events are usually held in larger schools, when a larger number of alumni are expected to attend. Nonetheless, these events are a great way to increase morale in schools, as well as to allow students to connect with those who came before them, and set the precedent for life beyond high school.

So, even though the concept of Homecoming week has changed overtime, it is still a staple in most high schools around the United States, and remains one of the most highly anticipated weeks in the school year.

In the past, an expanded Homecoming here at Marco Island Academy is something that has never been an option before, simply because our school was too new to allow a large amount of alumni to return. However, as the school grows older and more students graduate each year, there may be an elevated interest from alumni to invest in a truly traditional Homecoming week – an occasion made not only for current students, but for graduates to remember their time at MIA as well.