Homecoming has always been a big aspect of the excitement of the new school year. It´s a chance for many high school students to engage with others by dressing up, eating food, and enjoying some time on the dance floor. Here at Moorpark High, homecoming is especially extravagant. You have our halftime show, rally, spirit week, and of course the actual dance. So let us take an inside look at all the efforts actually put into the dance and overall experience.

This year, the Homecoming theme was inspired by the Disney movie, Tangled. Our ASB class at Moorpark High School excels with their homecoming implementation every year. Apparently, according to some students at Moorpark, this year's rally was one of the best ASB has done.

THE RALLY

¨Gleam and Glow!¨ ASB put on a spectacle of lights, performances, and excitement through the rally, hyping the students up for that night’s game against Royal and the dance the next day. The most notable aspect of the rally was the fact that everyone’s clothes and shoes were aglow! “Setting up the black lights for the rally was the hardest part,” says Lexi Satterwhite, an ASB senior and the head of the rally committee. The hard work clearly paid off with the dramatic entrance of the lights after a short clip of “Flower Gleam and Glow” from Tangled, wowing everyone watching.

Another very eye-catching addition to the rally was the giant, glowing flower hanging from the ceiling. The flower was designed by Payton Holliday, an ASB student and secretary of the ASB government, out of crate paper and ambition. The golden flower was something one could not miss as it embodied the essence of the magic that the flower displays in the movie.  

Not only are the decorations and colorful lights making everyone glow bringing excitement, but our two MCs, Gary Lockwood and Kyle Kievman excite everyone in the gym before and after every game or performance! When asked to describe the overall experience of the rally and being an MC, Gary replied saying, “It was pretty cool. Yeah, going out there is pretty nerve-racking, but once you start, it kinda got easier.” Kyle also shared some words about their experience after these first two rallies: “It was good to do it with someone that I knew before [Gary]. And it was fun dressing up too.” Clearly, these two enjoy hyping up the crowd just as much as they enjoy cheering for them.

The rally ended with a brilliant display of floating lanterns surrounding Maddi Burns (as Rapunzel) and Leo Helfrich (as Flynn Rider) performing a beautiful cover of "At Last I See The Light."

THE DANCE

The dance itself was filled with food, friends, and fun.  Many students were lined up outside the gates of the dance, anticipating to enter. Security was set up outside, and students' bags and pockets were checked to ensure a safe environment during the event. Once entered you would have noticed the array of amazingly decorated tables by ASB. Next was the most popular activity: the games provided by Royal Flush Casino. Students gathered around to play numerous mathematical-based activities. The Habit was also provided at the dance and many enjoyed their meals as they sat around the tables. Students also enjoyed the photo booth, taking numerous pictures and using props and frames to decorate themselves. 

The most well-anticipated event of the dance was the most obvious: the dancing. As students entered the fairlight tunnel into the gym, they passed some iconic scenes from the Disney movie Tangled, being presented. The tavern, the lanterns, and the forest were all gorgeously decorated and being shown off. Many students were taking pictures with their friends or by themselves. The dance floor was lit with colored lights of blues, purples, and even red hues. There was smoke going off from a machine after about every other song, which created such a fun carefree atmosphere and effect. The DJ, played some hit songs such as, “Fein” by Travis Scott, “Carnival” by Kanye West Ty Dolla $ign, and ¥$, and “American Boy” by Estelle. One Moorpark student named Isabella Leddon stated, “The music was better than ever!” as she spoke about the different songs and overall event. Many students enjoyed being able to jump around and make videos together throughout the whole experience. 

Overall, the students of Moorpark High School enjoyed all aspects of the 2024 Tangled in Our Memories Homecoming rally and dance!