Homecoming returned to its past as the “Spirit Scene” replaced the Divisional Banner competition this year.. Each division was up to the task, designing the interactive homecoming floats made popular year’s ago in Saint Louis School history.
The Homecoming Spirit scene was once a tradition that everyone looked forward to for Homecoming at Saint Louis. “Ms. Tauaese and I learned about the spirit floats from Mr. Abregano and Mr. Los Banos,” explained Student Activities Coordinator, Tasha Castro. “They showed us pictures from the yearbooks and kind of talked about how much fun it was to build them and how it brought the school community together.” Castro added that “ultimately our reasoning for bringing these back is to pay honor and homage to the past and to try something a little bit different.”
Every amazing student activities coordinator has a great vision and plan in order to execute the given task ahead. “Honestly, I think that the plan for bringing the floats back what’s the kind of see what else we could bring to the table,” said Castro, “and how we could bring back a little bit of what homecoming was like back then.”
The Crusader students are very eager and competitive, with each division building their best floats. However, Castro sees a more rewarding side, explaining, “As of right now, the spirit scenes are worth 125 points out of 300. But, honestly, being able to work alongside your brothers and as a teacher, to see you guys work together building, creating and seeing your visions come to life, that’s worth more than all the points!”
Historically, the Saint Louis School Homecoming Week was an important part of the Saint Louis School family, including alumni and the local community.. “As far as I can remember, when I look at the yearbooks from the 1940s and 50s, they all had homecoming games,” explains Abregano. The “Spirit Scene” floats were also put on display during Homecoming games after parading through the streets in the historic Kaimuki neighborhood.
“Most of the games at that time were played at the [old] stadium, Honolulu Stadium;” notes Abregano, “and whenever there was a homecoming game, they would have floats on flatbeds and so you know it was permissible.”
In the end, the return of old-time favorites like the “spirit scenes” makes the Crusader homecoming a great celebration. and it means a lot to have something like the Homecoming spirit scene back on the slopes. Abregano recalls a memory that shows the comradery homecoming has to offer. “I remember back in the eighties and nineties we had coming home and we would invite people from forty, fifty, and sixty years to come to our campus and we would have a spaghetti dinner and that was homecoming,” said Abregano.
Homecoming is always a great time filled with tradition and historical significance. “Homecoming is always important.” says Abregano. “All too often, we floss [over] the meaning of homecoming. Homecoming means people who are Alumni. You know, those who graduated will come back to school and visit the school and that was homecoming.” For anyone who has walked these halls, student and alumni, Homecoming provides a simple reminder: “Once a Crusader, always a Crusader.”
