“Welcome to Boston!” Parent volunteers and OHS staff members exclaimed as they greeted students in the Sonesta Hotel and handed them their name tags and Homecoming 2024 T-shirts.
From Friday to Saturday, November 22-23, Stanford Online High School held its annual Homecoming event in the Boston area. More than 200 Pixels and their families gathered at the Royal Sonesta Hotel to enjoy events such as a flag football game, a boat ride on the Charles River, ice skating at the Simoni Skating Rink, and the homecoming dance.
Highlight: Ice Skating at the Simoni Skating Rink
Despite the rainy weather outside on Friday afternoon, spirits were anything but dampened at the indoor Simoni skating rink in Cambridge, where the OHS Homecoming ice skating event took place. Protected from the drizzle, students and families laced up their skates and took to the rink, filling the space with laughter, music, and the sound of blades cutting across the ice.
From 2:00-4:00 p.m., the rink was alive with energy as seasoned skaters showed off impressive spins and beginners cautiously found their balance. Some OHS students glided solo, others skated hand-in-hand with friends, and a few experienced participants shared their skills, encouraging others to venture away from the wall.
Highlight: Boat Ride on the Charles River
Friday’s main event was the Charles River boat ride. Beginning at 4:00 p.m., three sets of boats took off, each carrying 30~40 parents and students. Though it was a bit rainy, free fizzy drinks offered aboard and the river’s splendid sights made up for the chill. “It was a phenomenal ride with a panoramic view,” said student Jude Loza (‘26).
Students enjoyed meeting each other as well as their friends’ amazing guests. “I like that the boat ride provided a family occasion alongside a school one,” said Habte Martone (‘25), who was aboard the Charles I with his younger sister Lia.
Highlight: Homecoming Dance at the Royal Sonesta Hotel
Inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, OHS students and friends gathered for the homecoming dance on Saturday, November 23. This lively event was the culmination of the fun, few-day-long homecoming occasion. After a quick dinner of pasta and salad, students gathered in the hotel’s east tower to meet friends, enjoy upbeat music, and dance.
The Board of Events (BOE) Chair Adriana Davies (‘25) planned the event and chose this year’s theme. Davies has been working with the BOE since her freshman year, during which she served as the Student Life Peer Leader, a role that no longer exists. She says that her favorite part of the dance is seeing friends. Davies adds that “I do really like the dances, though obviously those are my job—so much work goes into them and then to see them successful is really nice.”
Taking inspiration from this year’s theme, Flight to Neverland, many students wore brightly colored fairy wings or pirate attire. Francesca Davies (‘29) was perhaps the most on-theme, with a pirate-inspired outfit complete with large, eye-catching sparkly pink wings and a glowing moon charm hanging from her belt.
In addition to the stunning attire, the decorations were also fairy- and pirate-themed. Each table was adorned with clouds of white fluff, twinkling lights, and a miniature pirate ship or fairy lantern.
Amidst the dinner and dance, students could also retreat to the game or quiet room to chat with friends and classmates over fun board games.