As we get deeper into the fall season, J Sterling Morton West High School is getting prepared for the highly-anticipated (Back To The Past) theme homecoming, but before we get there well have a whole lot more fun activities coming to Morton.

“Students last year were looking at different themes that would be able to do some fund things for the spirt week, since in the previous years some of the themes for spirt week were too focused and there wasn’t a whole lot of room to do fun stuff, so with this theme it allows us to do a whole lot of different things for spirt week,” said Assistant Principal Samantha Skubal, one of the organizers of this year’s Homecoming events. With some of the new activities set for the upcoming sprit week are Pajama day, Retro jersey day, and Future day. there’s a whole lot of ways that students can express themselves, which is always the goal.”

So how is it all organized? Who participates? Who calls the shots? Skubal noted it all comes down to teamwork.

“We have a committee of people that meet on a regular basis, and also a homecoming coordinator, who this year’s coordinator is Ms. Murphy, who is doing an amazing job. And a whole bunch of clubs that are involved. Some of the things that are happening next week are thing that have kinda been around for a while, such as The Powder Puff Game, and Club Olympics which are recuring each year, but besides that the events at the pep rally… It really depends on what the students were interested in the year before, and even just takking to students and getting feedback from them. So this year for the pep rally (October 24th) I’ve switched up a lot of the games and doing a few more fun things and I’m hoping to get the crowd involved a little bit more.”

So what should attendees at the Homecoming dance expect? Skubal added that in addition to different decor, Homecoming revelers will have a chance to purchase Crumbl Cookies in balcony next to the fieldhouse, where they can relax, eat, and hydrate, before getting themselves back onto the dance floor.

But more than the themes and activities, Skubal emphasized that the event is about making memories: especially for the class of 2026.

“For seniors, [they should] definitely enjoy this moment of senior year because time is gonna go by really fast, and you will have so many other beautiful memories after this, but remember to live in this moment, to have fun as a kid as a senior and just enjoy it. Enjoy is while it’s here, and be a part of everything. Go to Homecoming, go to all the senior stuff, go to all the games, go to all the sports events. Just show up to all the stuff this year and soak it all in because before you know you’re going to be moving on to the next wonderful part your Journey.”