VBCPS celebrates homecoming spirit

Memories are made and celebrated at homecoming every year. Here’s a roundup of 2024 homecoming spirit celebrations at VBCPS. More to come!

Bayside High School

Homecoming excitement was ignited during the Bayside High School and Health Science Academy’s traditional bonfire Oct. 17.

Music blared as senior Kiyah Welcome energetically announced instructions for the games, including musical chairs and relay races, while other students waited by the bonfire as staff members cooked marshmallows to create s’mores.

Kiyah said she wanted to make sure this year’s celebration was better than ever, especially since she will graduate in June.

The event was one of a plethora of Bayside homecoming celebrations. The theme “Marlins World Tour!” filled the hallways with travel nods to cities, including a salute to Virginia Beach by freshmen. Sophomores decorated a hall in Rio de Janeiro style, while juniors chose New York City and seniors featured Rome.

Other events included a dodgeball tournament, pep rallies, a homecoming dance and parade, complete with tailgating fun prior to the Oct. 19 football game vs. Green Run.

A little wind didn’t stop Bayside High’s homecoming bonfire tradition. Games were played, prizes awarded, and marshmallows roasted.

Bayside senior Akira Askew, left, and junior Yolanda Hill said the s’mores were delicious.

A tailgate party was held before the Bayside homecoming game Oct. 19. Each class decorated a “Marlins World Tour!” – themed float, including the juniors’ salute to New York City.

The Bayside homecoming parade featured the homecoming court, including seniors Keniya Foreman, left, and Tamiyah Gossett.

Cox High School

Football, a parade, a king and a queen – all part of homecoming at Frank W. Cox!

First Colonial High School

Participants in spirit week at First Colonial painted spirit jeans in the library makerspace and celebrated dynamic duo spirit day. Teachers learned how to use the Cricut to make spirit wear.

Kellam High School

The theme for the 2024 homecoming at Kellam High was Family Game Night. Students in each class decorated their assigned hallways to celebrate the theme, including nods to Clue, Candyland, Battleship and Life. There was also football and a pep rally, of course.

Landstown High School

Ocean Lakes High School

Great decorations for Spirit Week!

Princess Anne High School

Princess Anne High School students stepped into movie sets as they walked down the halls before school Oct. 18. They were greeted by a variety of fictional characters, including Alice in Wonderland, Charlie from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Batman, Edward Scissorhands and more.

The Cavaliers’ homecoming celebration tradition seems to grow bigger and better each year, said English teacher Autumn Guild, a Princess Anne alum.

Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors each transformed a hallway into four movies tied in with the works of famous American fantasy film director Tim Burton. Walls were covered with art, characters came to life, and even orchestra members performed as part of the seniors’ “Beetlejuice” presentation. See video here.

Spirit week included a “bring anything but a backpack day.” Students showed up with a variety of unique items, including strollers and surfboards, to ramp up excitement for the homecoming game vs. Kellam.

Two of the movies depicted for homecoming by Princess Anne High seniors were “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

A headless horseman visited the halls of Princess Anne High for the sophomore class’s homecoming presentation of the movie “Sleepy Hollow.”

The Princess Anne freshmen class brought the movie “Dumbo,” to life for homecoming 2024.

Freshmen Elizabeth Robbins, left, and Arielle Goelz portrayed Batman and the Joker in Princess Anne’s homecoming hallways.

DJ Janki helped the freshmen class portray the movie “Frankenweenie” for homecoming.

The Oompa-Loompas were part of the juniors’ “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” homecoming hallway celebration at Princess Anne.

In attendance at the 2024 PAHS Homecoming to cheer on her former high school was Jackie Ditto Murray in her cheerleader outfit. Jackie attended PAHS from 1960-61.

PAHS prior students returned for the 2024 Homecoming

Salem High School

Among spirit week activities, the National Honor Society collected $1,011.73 for the Spirit of Change campaign, which took place in classrooms at Salem High School. The funds were used to purchase household goods, cleaning supplies, and baby items. (Pictured: NHS officers and some of the items. Left to right: Urva Jayshval, Aidan Shepherd, Niara Ashburn, Lily Check, Ella Livingston, Kimberly Garcia, Jalicia Feliciano.