It’s Homecoming week at Atlantic High School! This week is one of the most exciting weeks of the fall semester for most high school students. There are fun and inclusive activities happening this week at AHS. BINGO, dodge-ball, dress days, float building, and lunch games are keeping AHS students in the Homecoming spirit, as well as the anticipated Pep Rally on Friday afternoon. 

The pep rally is the biggest of the entire school year. All AHS students and staff attend and it is open to the public. Our 2023 football cheerleaders will perform their special Homecoming performance that they have been working on since summer. “This routine is preparing us for comp cheer that we will be competing in November,” said Head Coach Katie Hedegaard-Monero. “There are so many more stunts and harder tumbling.” 

The Homecoming King and Queen will also be crowned as a part of this pep rally. The coronation is something special at AHS. The past year’s royalty, King Brendan Casey and Queen Rio Johnson, come home and crown the new royalty. 

AHS Pacific Island Dancers will continue the tradition of performing at the rally.. “I have been hula dancing since I could walk,” said senior Erinchina Mark. The Island Dancers have performed at the pep rally for at least four years. “This is something part of our culture and we take it seriously,” said Mark. 

The 2023 Homecoming theme is “Trojans Got Game.” The Student Council decides on a theme for Homecoming. This year they debated between two themes, but “Trojans Got Game” won. “We really liked the dress days for this theme,” said Student Council President Emma Winford. “Everyone got super excited about the theme and we took it and ran with it,” said Winford. 

AHS Principal Heather McKay says that Homecoming is the “perfect opportunity” to focus on the “CommUNITY” of our town. All schools in the district have the same dress days and are all encouraged to get involved. 

The big Friday night game is a hit with everyone too. McKay’s favorite tradition is the battle cry between the AHS grade levels. “That always gets the students loud and proud,” said McKay.