In Paint Branch’s 40 years of existence, homecoming has been an annual tradition. Class T-shirts, banners, decorated hallways, and floats leave little to the imagination of students, staff, and the community. The week is jam-packed with events, keeping students active with class wars, spirit week, and the crème de la crème of it all, the homecoming game and pep rally. But, the hustle, bustle, and excitement of the week masks the hard work it takes to prepare and design what we simply call homecoming.

        This year’s homecoming theme, “Vacation Destinations,” was voted on by class officers and student government officials, with a goal of letting students reminisce about their past summers and smell the island breeze in the very halls of Paint Branch.

        Sophomore Class Treasurer Patricia Duvra comments that the theme is “honestly, pretty good and it gives you room to play with it.” Duvra also elaborates on her class’s efforts with the designing of their homecoming items, “It’s fun, but, it’s a ton of work.”

      Junior Class Advisor Mr. Stuart loves the theme and comments that it is the “best” theme since he’s been here. He also adds that his bunch is “meeting every day at LAP and after school, designing their arch, banner, and hallway.”

       “Class officers should be encouraging class members to help build the banner, arch, and hallway,” remarks SGA Advisor and English teacher Ms. Dana Birdin. “It’s time for class unity, with the idea of becoming the overall winners of homecoming events.”

       Some students might be asking: “What is Paint Branch doing to stand out from the rest of  the county schools ?” This year, the usual floats have been replaced with arches for the princes and princesses to walk through. Along with the transition to arches, fence designs are being used to expand school spirit to every inch of Paint Branch. Ms. Birdin states, “Here at Paint Branch we adhere to tradition, but we’re not afraid to try new things.”

      The homecoming festivities are being adhered to as the decorating of the hallways took place by 7:30 and having them down within the next couple days. The banner being posted before Fridays LAP is over, and spirit week ended with school colors day.

      In the years to come as we all migrate back to Paint Branch for our class reunions, we all may find it quite pleasing to find out that we all have left a mark on the school. With our fence designs and arches, remembering this time of homecoming and our traditions will be seen in the lives of Panther students to come.