By April Anaya & Brenna Angelo

If Hogwarts had Friday Night Lights, it would probably look like our homecoming week. From curated themed spirit days to the big football game and a dance as enchanting as the Yule Ball, this year’s celebration brought the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Granada Hills Charter.


The Highlanders Associated Student Body (ASB) did a spectacular job on creating a spirit week that provided a mystical experience for all students. From pajama day to Hogwarts house colors, school spirit and participation were through the roof across campus.


“I felt that there was more participation this year compared to my last couple of years here at Granada,” junior Giana Evangelista said, “Coming to school all dressed up and on theme was extremely fun and made learning more enjoyable.”


Despite drastic weather conditions from pouring rain to scalding heat, Highlanders showed school pride arriving at school in their best outfits with accessories like feminist literature, matcha drinks, and tons upon tons of Labubus. Many felt that performative day was one of the most creative spirit week themes with a large amount of student and staff participation.
By Friday night, everyone was ready for the homecoming game. Tickets had already sold out by Thursday, and the stands were packed with students from every grade level as well as alumni.


The night kicked off at 6:00 p.m. beginning with the homecoming parade where the homecoming court along with various clubs and teams competed for a grand prize by creating posters that followed the theme of “Once Upon a Fairytale.” The Mariachi club took home the gold with their stellar poster themed after the movie “Coco,” including three skull figures with beautiful wings and colorful designs, showcasing their musical talents as they walked across the track for the audience.


Early in the game, sophomore quarterback Taiyo Dorio passed the ball to junior running backTroy Verso. The stands went wild as Verso sprinted down the field and into the end zone, scoring the first points of the night and setting the tone for an unforgettable game.


“Everyone showed up with a lot of school spirit,” senior Ani Varozian said. “The crowd was cheering nonstop, and it felt like everyone wanted to support the team and have fun together.”


As the night went on, the energy grew louder and louder. The band kept the music going, the dance team had an amazing halftime performance, with students singing and dancing along, getting even more hyped for the dance the next night.


Students felt as if they were stepping straight into Hogwarts as they entered the campus for the dance. The lights were dim and golden candles seemed to be floating in the cafeteria.
From the start, the energy was different from previous years. Students filled the dance floor almost immediately, laughing, singing, and staying out there for hours.


“This felt different from the last two years,” senior Suzan Mkhitaryan said. “The energy was different, and people were enjoying it more.”


The sense of community was what stood out most to many attendees.


The Hogwarts theme tied everything together with the immersive decorations and lighting.
“From the moment you entered to when you left, you could feel the theme,” Mkhitaryan said. “The lights were done really well. It was dark, but in a way that made everything feel warm and alive. It was such a different vibe from something like Back-to-School Night.”


By the end of the night, it was clear that this year’s homecoming week wasn’t just about the theme or decorations, it was about the people. The shared excitement, laughter, and connection made it a week to remember.