Santa Fe High School math teacher Melvin Perez said he doesn't remember much about homecoming at his alma mater — St. Michael's High School — but he does know that homecoming remains a strong tradition.

"I can't even remember who I went with," Perez said. "It's all just another student involvement activity. Times have changed, but (homecoming) is something that's remained consistent."

Indeed, homecoming is still alive across high schools in Santa Fe and students always enjoy the traditions.

"I had a great time," Josh Rael, a senior at SFHS, said after his homecoming dance. "I like this kind of thing. It's a good opportunity to have fun with friends and others and do things that you wouldn't normally do."

The typical homecoming often includes celebrations and activities for alumni and students — parades, sports matches, dances and electing royalty.

Even The Academy for Technology and the Classics, which doesn't have a football team, held homecoming events this year. Jenny Mundy-Castle, an English teacher at the ATC, helped organize a pep rally — the school does have a cheerleading squad — and a party for students.

At Pojoaque Valley High School, the celebrations lasted a week and included a football game and dance.

The royalty at Pojoaque is a little different. There is a prince and princess, as well as a Native prince and princess. Students coming from pueblos run for the Native royalty, emphasizing the importance of their culture and its inclusion in the traditional American system.



Lucy Ohlsen is a junior at Santa Fe High. You can reach her at lime
freak44@cybermesa.com.