Taking Sides: Should there be a Homecoming theme?

Homecoming Themes: Yes 

By: Rose Carr

Ugly or good, this is the question all students ask when homecoming themes are being released. Some themes can be a buzzkill, while some can be astonishing. In the debate for a homecoming theme or not; the answer is always yes. The dance theme ultimately helps decide the decorations, the overall vibe, and all the social media posts. 

Decorations and overall dance appearance plays a crucial role in the mood of the dance, or the photos you take. Having decorations can change an ordinary room into a magical space that sets the mood for the dance and makes guests excited. On the contrary, using decorations year after year gets very repetitive and boring after a while; having four years of the same theme would make the dance more dull and mind-numbing. 

Not only does it impact the decor, but it also can decide the vibe for dress-up themes the week leading up to the main dance. Dressing up for the themes can make school spirit higher while some schools do raffle prizes for those who dress up. 

However, themes are posted so late making everyone rush to get dresses that would fit the theme or make the dresses late, having many girls not get the dress they want in the end. The rushed timeline is driving people away from the theme entirely.

Taking this into consideration there have been themes that any dress would match and themes would be on point. Take Rio for example any  color dress would be any bird making all different dresses inclusive.  This makes people have more fun with the theme and greater participation. 

Though the chaos of it all, the theme should be kept because it provides everyone a sense of tradition, school spirit, and memories that last long after the music stops. Despite the stress of late theme announcements and last-minute dress shopping, inclusive themes prove that the tradition is worth saving. Ultimately, a good theme does more than just dictate decorations and photo ops—it transforms an ordinary high school dance into a shared, unforgettable experience. When done right, the energy and unity it brings make all the chaotic planning well worth it.

Homecoming Themes: No

By: Natalie Deross

Homecoming, a major event of the school year, usually gets people excited. However, the way the theme is picked and put into action can be a bit disappointing. There are several reasons why students see the theme as more of a hassle.

One reason is that many students buy their dresses long before they know the theme, which often leads to a mismatch. This year’s theme, “A Night in Rio,” is a good example. While it sounds like a fun and different idea, it doesn’t work for everyone. For example, yellow has been a trending color and might be more common for dresses this year, but for this theme, it isn’t the kind of bright, colorful shade that usually makes you think of Rio de Janeiro, which is known for its lively blues, greens, oranges, and other colors that give off a Brazilian vibe.

It’s not just about the dresses, though. There’s also a feeling that the decorations in the school hallways don’t really match the theme. It seems like a general style of decorating is used, which doesn’t quite capture the spirit of the chosen theme. This makes the effort put into picking a theme feel less impactful when the surroundings don’t reflect it. It’s a missed opportunity to make the event feel more special and unique.

To fix this, there could be a more student-friendly way of choosing the theme implemented in the future. A simple idea could be to have the students vote on the theme during the first few weeks of school. This way, the school can find out what most students like and make sure the theme is something they’ll really get behind. Since this kind of voting might already happen for prom, doing it for homecoming too would make the planning feel more fairer and more consistent for big school events.

In the end, working together and listening to what students want will help make sure homecoming themes are not just announced, but truly enjoyed and felt by everyone at school, making the event a more special and real reflection of school spirit.This approach fosters a sense of ownership and excitement, ensuring that the chosen theme resonates with the student body and contributes to a memorable and spirited homecoming celebration.