By Samantha Posa

Last weekend, Granada Hills Charter High School (GHC) celebrated its yearly Homecoming festivities culminating in a dance with the theme “Tale as Old as Time,” referencing the classic Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast.” 

The Associated Student Body worked to get students excited with our first Spirit Week of the year. Every day had a different theme, ranging from the nostalgic “Party Like it’s 1999” to the competitive “Coastal vs. Country.” Students dressed in their most festive attire and got to walk the runway inspired by the popular Roblox game “Dress to Impress.”

On Friday, October 4, GHC competed against Cleveland High School for the annual Homecoming football game, preceded by the Homecoming parade. Students dressed in all pink to match the game theme of “Pinkapalooza,” and watched as clubs carried banners to raise money for their organizations during the Homecoming parade. Students were able to vote for the groups with the best themes and decorations in an online form. Choir won first place, with Robotics coming in second. 

The Homecoming game was thrilling and tightly contested. For much of the game, Cleveland and GHC were tied. In the final ten minutes, Cleveland scored the final point and ended the game with 29 to 28 points. 

Despite the loss, students exuded intense energy and celebration. The campus was filled with royal French decor, roses, and candle-lit lighting. Large cutouts of Belle and the Beast from the live-action movie greeted students as they entered the dance. 

On the dance floor, students danced to famous songs such as “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), “Die For You” (The Weeknd), and “LOVE” (Keyshia Cole) as scenes from “Beauty and the Beast” were projected behind the stage. 

“The energy was really high like last year’s,” junior Orielle Garcia said. “The setlist made students especially excited with the choice of songs. The decorations helped set the atmosphere.” 

In addition to dancing, ASB provided students with fun entertainment options, including karaoke, game consoles, and tabletop games. Activities like photo booths and pool tables remained popular from last year. 

“It was so rewarding to hear all of the positive feedback about the Homecoming dance,” sophomore Audrey Choi said. “I felt honored to have worked on this dance with my wonderful Homecoming co-chair, Venice, and incredibly proud of all the hard work we put into this event. Hearing how much everyone enjoyed it made our tireless effort over the past few months truly worth the while.” 

The dance ended with crowning seniors Janelle Gundry and Ximena Avila-Martinez as the 2024 Homecoming queens. 

“Winning Homecoming Queen alongside my friend, Ximena Avila-Martinez, was such an exciting moment for me,” senior Janelle Gundry said. “I tried to take it all in since it was my last Homecoming ever and I do believe it was a great way to end my high school celebrations.”