HOCO ’26 : A Night in Hollywood

By Amruta Srinivasan

Homecoming! On the 23rd of October, at 6:30 p.m., Stratfordians drifted into the school’s gym, dressed in their finest garb. The school gym, known as the grounds of several successful basketball and volleyball games, was now San Jose’s most fashionable dance floor. Games of Blackjack and UNO were sprinkled around the gym, and students played with such drive and zeal. Clad in glamorous gowns and spiffy suits, the students of Stratford danced, mingled, played card games, and posed for the photobooth with their friends. Homecoming was truly shaping up to be A Night In Hollywood. 

There were several aspects of the dance that students enjoyed, from the photobooths to the card games. When speaking to the student body, one student said that “taking selfies, digi-cam pics, and photobooth strips with all [their] friends was probably [their] favorite memory,” a sentiment shared by much of Homecoming’s attendees. Homecoming is a chance for students to bond with their peers in a setting outside of a classroom, and to document those memories is From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., students danced to several songs, from classics like “Macarena” and “Gangnam Style” to popular new favorites: “Ain’t In LA” and “Just Keep Watching.” Favorite songs tended to change per student, but the popular vote went to songs that the whole student body could groove to, with “Low” by Flo Rida being a front-runner. One student explained that they loved “Low” at the dance because of how “everybody knew the main chorus” and danced along with the song. These cult-classic songs were mainly popular for the camaraderie they brought between students, and the shared connection of dancing along to the same tune. 

Despite the general consensus that Stratford’s 2026 Homecoming was an absolute blast, students had suggestions for how the event could be improved. Among some of the suggestions were “disposable cameras for groups of students,” options to “download the photobooth’s pictures online,” and better drink choices. Hopefully, some of these suggestions will be implemented for our next Homecoming in 2027! The highlight of the dance was, of course, the crowning of Stratford Preparatory’s Homecoming King and Queen, titles reserved for sophomores Jayden Mumah and Arshiya Kumar. A hearty congratulations to them, and felicitations to everyone else who attended our school’s delightful dance!