Homecoming is more than a dance, more than an assembly, more than a game. It is also a time for people to build memories and spirit for their school.

Homecoming at Carlmont, in short, is a week-long celebration that includes numerous events to enhance school spirit, such as Powderpuff girls football, spirit days, the Homecoming football game, and a dance on the Saturday of Homecoming week.

For the entire celebration itself to be a success, planners must do a lot behind the scenes to make sure the week-long event runs as smooth as possible.

Commissions in ASB, for example the Publicity Commission, start work on posters for Homecoming at least one month before the Homecoming week begins.

“Each one of those activities requires about one to two months of preparation. Some, like the dance, require the planning to begin about six months prior. This is because we have to secure a DJ, the facility [where the dance will take place], as well as decide on the date of Homecoming,” Kelly said.

Other events, such as Powerpuff, require jersey designing and distributing, and weekend practices with student coaches before playing their games during Homecoming week. Then, the finals are played on Tuesday night under the lights of the football field.

At halftime, boys cheer for their class’ Powderpuff team with a choreographed dance to pop music.

Powderpuff at night is a fairly young tradition at Carlmont, only about a year old, but attendance has only grown since it was started. ASB hopes it will continue to grow as an element of Homecoming week.

Some students dressed up every day, and others only a few.

“I like how the spirit days are tailored to fit everyone,” Sophomore Connie Gong said. “But, I think they could be more thought out and it’s hard to find stuff to wear especially for days like lifeguard day.”

Even if one aspect of Homecoming week was not a personal favorite, students could still find other aspects to take part in.

An event unique to Carlmont is the In It to Win it class competition held on Wednesday of Homecoming week. It is a night of food and games that students of all grades participate in for multiple hours in hopes of winning points for their class. A winner is announced at the Homecoming Assembly on Thursday.

The Homecoming Assembly features performances from the Carlmont dance team, the cheer team, the football team, Carlmont Cup lunch tournament finalists, and more. Anyone who wants to can ask to participate.

In addition, during the Homecoming football game on the Friday night of Homecoming week, each class must decorate a Homecoming float to carry around the field during halftime. It is a time for classes to come together to create something that represents them, then present it to their peers and parents in a show of spirit.

“Each commission in ASB works their hardest for the float. It is hard to describe because there is so much that goes into it,” Junior Class Vice President Nate Rutter said.

The students gather on the field a few minutes before halftime and each class walks across the track with their poster or structure made to fit the theme each grade chose a few months prior.

The final event of Homecoming that brings it to a close is the dance. This takes place on the Saturday night of Homecoming week from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. In the past, over 1000 students have attended.

“I believe Homecoming is a time for students to come together and show school spirit, especially during the football game, assembly, and dance. I think ASB does a really good job in planning for these events and making it the best that it can be,” Jessica Yu, a junior, said.