Upper School chemistry teacher Catherine Faler did not spend her Monday night in Hollywood dressed as an A-list celebrity, but rather as a Star Trek character.
“I look for any opportunity where I get to wear my uniform, and this checked all the boxes” Faler said.
When deciding whether to chaperone Homecoming as a first-year teacher, Faler ultimately chose to participate after hearing positive comments about the experience from other faculty members.
“I was told by another chemistry teacher that it’s a lot of fun,” Faler said. “And you get to see the students in a different light.”
Yet for first-year teachers like Faler, they often do not know what to expect.
“For a lot of my day, I really don’t know what’s gonna happen, and I think Homecoming is gonna be the same,” Faler said. “It’s just fun to see what happens when it happens.”
Unlike Faler, English teacher Marquita Gill has chaperoned the event a total of four times and continues to return. She especially liked this year’s Homecoming theme, Hollywood.
“I really enjoyed a lot of the students’ costumes and that’s something which motivates me to keep chaperoning,” Gill said.
Gill has noticed that teachers often volunteer to support their own advisees, particularly those with senior groups.
“I have seniors and it’s their last time at Homecoming, so I really wanted to be with them,” Gill said.
Sophomore Mila Craig enjoys getting to see her teachers at the dance.
“It’s a good opportunity for teachers to see us dressed up and hanging out with friends outside of a classroom setting,” Craig said.
While teachers are happy to support students at the event, few actually choose to dress up on the theme.
“Sometimes I just can’t find stuff,” Gill said. “This year I really wanted to, but I was in the process of moving, so it was hard to grab my things.”
For many teachers these themed homecomings feel drastically different from the formal dances of their own high school experiences.
“People didn’t really dress up and follow the theme beyond the decorations and that was kind of disappointing. So I think our school’s approach is interesting. It’s very fun, and I think it adds a different dimension to things,” Faler said.
Gill says that she sometimes misses the traditions of a classic Homecoming, like a formal court, but appreciates how the event reflects the school’s culture.
“Usually for Homecoming at my previous schools, there would be a Homecoming court and someone would become the homecoming king and homecoming queen, and then there’s the junior king and junior queen. There’s awards or positions for each year” Gill said.
But this year, the School did host an awards ceremony—the Oscars, given to students who embodied the theme the best.
Although some teachers have early parent conferences the following morning, many still volunteer every year.
“It is really hard because sometimes we stay here until 9:30, maybe 11:00, and then some of us have conferences at 7:30 in the morning,” Gill said.
Despite the long hours, most teachers, like Gill, agree that homecoming night is worth it for the energy, creativity and community.
“It lends to the culture of St. John’s,” Gill said. “You don’t have to be cookie-cutter. You get to see students express themselves and have fun in their own way. That’s what makes it special.”
