I had never experienced anything quite like this week’s Homecoming!  At Awty, we celebrate many international festivals each year and we frequently recognize events of global significance and cultural importance.  In contrast to this focus on internationalism, our Homecoming week was pure America.

For the benefit of my readers outside the US, Homecoming week is a big tradition here when alumni are welcomed back to a school, usually coinciding with a significant football match.  At Awty, our festivities last a whole week.  For each school day leading up to Homecoming, for example, our students had uniform-free days with a particular theme on each day.  On Monday, the theme was “Clash the Eagles” (the Eagles being the mascot of our opposing team in the big Homecoming football [soccer] match), and so students (and teachers) were encouraged to wear mismatched clothes such as stripes with plaids, mixed patterns or clashing colors.  Tuesday’s theme was “Hats off to the Rams and Sock it to the Eagles” (the Ram being Awty’s mascot), so everyone was encouraged to wear a hat and/or crazy socks with their uniform.  On Wednesday, the theme of the day was “Send the Eagles to Dreamland”, which meant students could wear their pajamas to school. Thursday’s theme was “Homecoming T-shirt Day”, and everyone was encouraged to wear the special yellow and green T-shirts that had been prepared to celebrate Homecoming.  Finally, Friday was “Green and Gold Day” (Awty’s colors), so everyone was encouraged to wear a major article of clothing in green or gold.  As the photos below show, our students really threw themselves into the spirit by dressing according to the various themes.

Friday was the climax of Homecoming Week.  That morning, all the students from Pre-Kindergarten right through to Grade 12 gathered in the PAAC for the Pep Rally.  It is difficult to describe the color, the action, the fun, the noise and the overflow of excitement in mere words.  Our cheerleaders performed, our soccer team was honored, our large Ram mascot mingled with the younger students, the band played (brilliantly as always) and the cheering and applause reflected a deep and genuine Awty spirit that was both palpable and contagious.

That evening, following a delightful function in the Sarofim Library at which we formally welcomed our alumni and alumni parents, we walked over to our athletics stadium to watch the Homecoming match against the visiting soccer team from Fort Bend Christian Academy.  Nourished by some great hamburgers prepared by our Dad’s Club members and sold by our Student Council, it was a joy to watch the excellent match that was played in a very positive spirit while catching up with a great group of Awty friends - board members, teachers, students, alumni and families.  We won the match, but that was certainly incidental to the sense of community, sportsmanship and camaraderie evident on the evening.

I expect that Awty will return to normal tomorrow morning after this truly memorable week of festivities.  The events might have concluded, but I am sure that the happy memories and the Awty spirit will endure for many years to come. 

For my part, the sights, sounds and experiences of my first Homecoming week at Awty are firmly implanted in my mind and I am already looking forward to next year’s event.  I can hardly wait!