I am officially a Potterhead. And, like many others, I am ecstatic about the upcoming Homecoming theme: Harry Potter. For many, this is a chance to let their inner wizard make an appearance! Ever since J.K Rowling released the first book in 1997, over 50 million copies have been sold, and Harry Potter has touched so many people. Despite the wizards and magic, it’s a true story of companionship, which is perfectly fitting for a night of dancing with your friends. I think having a movie, especially a classic like this, as a theme for homecoming, is going to create more excitement and participation. There is so much more that can be done through a cinematic theme. The dance floor will be elaborately decorated to match, our theme week will feature Harry Potter challenges, our Homecoming floats will don the house colors, and more evening pictures will be taken by a red telephone booth.

The Harry Potter world is universal; it never has seemed to grow old. Producing a successful cinematic Homecoming theme can be a struggle; what if no one knows the movie? But Harry Potter is one that doesn’t seem to fit only one standard. We see him go through the same struggles we go through, as he struggles through his ‘high school’ years. Even the dance, the Yule Ball, connects to our highschool experiences. In other words, Harry is relatable too. We’re able to connect to a fictional story about a boy wizard.

Instead of the Homecoming theme just applying to the dance floor, it applies to the whole week. As each grade is sorted into houses (freshmen are Hufflepuff, sophomores are Gryffindor, juniors are Ravenclaw, and seniors are Slytherin), we will be able to spend a week competing to win the most house points, and eventually hold the house cup. Dress up days and competition are going to fill the week with excitement and anticipation.