Danbury High School’s students can look forward to the vibrant, colorful twist for this year’s homecoming, with the theme being “Rio de Janeiro: A Night of Carnival.” After weeks of student feedback and debate, the Board of Governors (BOG) finalized and announced the theme on October 8th, 2024, intending to bring excitement and unite all students in the school community.

The BOG, in charge of planning and executing homecoming, wanted a theme that would reflect the student body’s energy while introducing something unique and memorable.  After reviewing several student suggestions and discussing budget considerations, the board felt the Rio de Janeiro theme, inspired by the colorful Brazilian festival, would be a newer, more exciting environment than anything else seen throughout the years at past homecomings.

The decision-making process behind selecting this year’s theme was extensive. According to the BOG President, Dalilah Lliguicota, the board spent weeks gathering feedback from students to make sure the theme would appeal to the majority of the school. 

One of Lliguicota’s “main goals when running for president was to be a big emphasis [for] students to always be able to come to [her].” She recognized that students were eager for something colorful and new, so she worked to ensure the homecoming theme would reflect their desire for something new and exciting. The BOG Vice President, Hayden Rogers, shared the same feeling: “It’s [going to be] an exciting night with…bright…colors, different than what’s been done in the past.”

Throughout the process, the BOG faced several challenges, especially when it came to finalizing a theme. Some other theme ideas that were tossed around included “Enchanted Garden” and “Old Hollywood.” Nevertheless, after much consideration, the board decided it was best to go with “Rio de Janeiro: A Night of Carnival” as it would offer a new, unique theme that has never been seen in past years, as well as offer more creative possibilities for decorations and music.

After the BOG announced the theme on both their Instagram and TikTok pages, students believed it was a great idea to follow up on a theme that is becoming quite popular, especially as there will be “light shined on cultures,” says Rogers. Although some skepticism sparked in the minds of DHS’s students, they are “interested to find out how [the decorations] will be implemented to the theme.” 

Rogers explains how Paulina Visconti, the secretary of the BOG, was mainly in charge of collecting decorations on Amazon, including a wide variety of flowers and plants to match nature in Brazil. Lliguicota explains how “[the BOG] has a lot of freedom, they are the ones who decide the decorations and the theme…[and they’ve] been able to have a lot of creativity.

The school administration is excited to see how the event is going to unfold. Principal Donovan shared, “It’s always great to see students take such an active role in organizing events like homecoming. Their dedication and creativity have really shown, and [he] has no doubt this year’s homecoming will be one to remember”.

The event will take place on October 26th, and students have been informed that tickets will be going on sale at precisely 10 am on October 20th. Decorations will feature the bold colors of Carnival. The Board of Governors has worked tirelessly to ensure that this homecoming will stand out from the rest and be a night that students won’t soon forget. 

As anticipation builds, students can begin to feel the excitement that comes with a night of fun, culture, and celebration. For Danbury High School, “Rio de Janeiro: A Night of Carnival” will mark a homecoming that blends tradition with new, omnipresent inspiration.