There are plenty of serious moments in the life of a principal, but Homecoming week reminds me why I became an educator: Sometimes the most important work we do is helping students have fun, feel like they belong, and create memories they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
At Woodhaven High School, Homecoming is much more than a football game and a dance. It is a week when our building comes alive. Students have opportunities to lead, compete, create, celebrate and simply enjoy being high school students. There truly is something for everyone.
And that is what makes Homecoming so important to school culture.
The week begins with Spirit Week dress-up days that are created by the students. I love that these ideas come from students. When students have a voice in what happens in their school, they have ownership in the culture they are helping create.
Then there is the Rock, Paper, Scissors competition.
On the surface, it sounds incredibly simple. But watching a schoolwide competition like this spread through the building is something special. Students are talking about it, challenging one another and cheering each other on. It creates an energy throughout the school that is difficult to manufacture. Sometimes the simplest traditions become the ones students remember most.
Our Homecoming King and Queen Court luncheon gives us another opportunity to celebrate students with their parents, while our pep assembly is one of the biggest highlights of the week. Student voice is a major part of planning the assembly, and their creativity and energy make it something adults could never create on their own.
Of course, Homecoming also brings out the competitive spirit.
Our Powder Puff football game gives students another opportunity to participate, compete and represent their school. It is fun, energetic and full of school spirit. It is also a great reminder that school activities do not have to be limited to the traditional athletic or extracurricular experiences. We want students to find their place and their people.
Then come the float construction parties and, ultimately, the Homecoming parade. There is creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and, occasionally, a little chaos. The finished float is great, but the real value is in the relationships and memories created while building it.
The week culminates with our Homecoming dance. A great DJ, a photo booth and some outstanding desserts help create a memorable night, but what matters most is that students have the opportunity to dress up, spend time with friends, take pictures and celebrate together.
As the principal, we have another responsibility during Homecoming week: making sure students can have fun while keeping them safe.
That balance is an important part of school leadership.
Our students should be able to celebrate. They should be able to be loud, energetic, competitive and excited. Our responsibility is to create structures and expectations that allow that excitement to happen safely. That means planning ahead, communicating expectations, having enough adults present, working with our staff and community partners, and being visible throughout the events.
Safety does not have to be the opposite of fun.
In fact, when students know the adults around them care enough to create a safe environment, they are able to relax and enjoy the experience even more.
We spend so much of our time as school leaders dealing with the difficult parts of education—discipline, staffing, parent concerns, budgets, schedules, safety and the unexpected problems that arrive every day. Homecoming gives us a chance to step back and remember why all of that work matters.
Because years from now, our students may not remember every assignment they completed or every announcement they heard. But they will remember the Spirit Week theme they dressed up for. They will remember the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament. They will remember the pep assembly, the Powder Puff game and building a float with their friends. They will remember the parade, the dance and the people who made them feel like they belonged.
Homecoming is more than a week on the calendar.
It is an investment in school culture, student voice, belonging, school spirit and relationships.
As principals, we have an incredible opportunity to create an environment where students can work hard, be challenged and meet high expectations, but also laugh, celebrate and make memories.
Sometimes leadership means making a difficult decision. Sometimes it means having a tough conversation. And sometimes leadership means standing in the middle of a loud, energetic pep assembly, watching your students celebrate their school, and realizing:
This is what school is supposed to feel like.