On Saturday, Oct. 21, students gathered in a transformed cafeteria at 8 p.m. to dance, play casino games, and unwind with fellow peers at the annual Homecoming Dance.

This year’s theme was “Let’s Glow Crazy”, and the school was decked out to represent it. The cafeteria was awash in blacklight, and adorned with bright neon illustrations.  

“This morning I painted my dress with glow-in-the-dark puffy paint, so now my dress glows,” Lucy Allison ‘26 said. “I like the glow-in-the-dark theme because you can see yourself in the dark, [which is] pretty snazzy because that doesn’t happen very often.”

Students filled the school with an array of elegant, vibrant dresses and sophisticated suits.

“Especially if you’re not an upperclassman, [homecoming is] your replacement for prom,” Allison said. “You can see all your friends, and you have an excuse to glam up and have so much fun. I’m hoping to make a lot of wonderful memories with my friends, and party it up on the dance floor.” 

The dance, organized by the Pacesetters, gave students various opportunities for fun aside from just dancing. There were multiple blackjack stations around the atrium, a photo booth, and a senior lounge. For many students, the dance offered a welcome reprieve from the pressures of school. 

“High schoolers aren’t really given the opportunity to have these recreational events without having to take time out of their day,” Anushka Gupta ‘26 said. “Especially at a school like Westwood where things are so academically pressing, I think it’s really important that we have [events like] homecoming.”

Homecoming provides a priceless opportunity for students to socialize, have fun, and dress up. 

“I think that it’s kind of one of those experiences where you’re going to have fun no matter what you do,” Gupta said. “I think everyone should go to have a good time with their friends, that’s so important to having a good high school experience.”