Danbury High School kicked off spirit week 2024 with vibrant themes and enthusiastic student participation. From nostalgic 80s and 90s fashion to creative ‘Anything But a Backpack’ solutions, Hatters showed their school pride in full force.

The Board of Governors, led by Dalilah Lliguicota and Hayden Rogers, proposed each day’s theme to reflect the spirit of inclusivity and creativity that defines DHS. “We wanted each theme to be something everyone could join in on,” Lliguicota shared. 

Monday: Anything But a Backpack Day

Spirit week kicked off with ‘Anything But a Backpack Day’, where students replaced the ordinary backpack with irregular items to carry their belongings. From suitcases and laundry bins to cardboard boxes and picnic baskets, the creativity was impressive. Some students even went above and beyond decorating their carriers with sparkles and furs to stand out even more.

DHS junior Kevin De Paula brought a giant airport suitcase, which he later admitted was “not a good idea” due to the crowded hallways. Still, he and his friends agreed that “it was a funny” and a memorable choice, an opinion shared by a lot of students, echoing the lighthearted spirit that marked the beginning of spirit week.

Tuesday: Throwback Tuesday (80s and 90s Fashion)

On Throwback Tuesday, the halls were raided with students who seemed to have stepped into the future. Students embraced the styles of the 80s and 90s, filling the halls with flannel shirts, vintage band tees, and vibrant, bold colors. The retro theme was especially popular with the members of the Danbury High School Fashion Club.

Fashion Club Social Media Manager Katherine Suarez, who took inspiration from 90s streetwear with denim and baggy jeans, shared her enthusiasm; “I love 90s fashion, and I loved to see […] people dressing like that in that era.” Suarez’s look, along with many others, captured the essence of vintage fashion, making it one of the week’s most talked

-about themes.

Wednesday: Character Day

On Character Day, students came dressed as beloved characters from movies, comics, and books, transforming the school into a parade of popular figures. Sophomore Nina Meyerewicz, who coordinated her outfit with her boyfriend, said, “[Wednesday] is definitely [her] favorite theme day.”

Students’ costumes ranged from Spongebob Squarepants and Shrek to the Lorax, Little Red Riding Hood, and Spiderman, with plenty of creative twists along the way. The wide variety of costumes added an extra layer of excitement to the week.

Thursday: Class Color Day

Class Color Day brought on friendly competition as each grade wore their designated class colors with pride. The seniors wore the iconic color black, the juniors rocked green, the sophomores donned purple, and the freshmen took over with pink. Students didn’t stop at just a shirt; they went all out with accessories, face paint, hats, and more to represent their colors.

Sophomore Evelyn Samaniego shares how she “brought purple paint and shared it with all [her] friends” when she saw they forgot to wear purple. She believed that just applying a bit of your color’s paint “brings the grade together.”

Thursday also marked the Homecoming Pep Rally, where the sea of class colors in the bleachers created a visual display of school spirit. Reflecting on the day, DHS sophomore Jake Lliguicota shared how “[he felt] like spirit week was building up to the pep rally as each event was fun and inclusive for everyone to participate in. [He] really enjoyed every single one of the themes, as each thing was something different and new, and mostly everybody participated. And at the end, everyone wore their colors and had a fun time at the pep rally enjoying the show, the music, and the shirts [thrown at the bleachers].”

Friday: Hatters Spirit Day

Spirit week wrapped up with Hatters Spirit Day, where the school colors of blue and orange filled every corner of DHS. Students proudly wore school merch, painted their faces, and filled the halls with energy as they prepared for the highly anticipated Homecoming football game that evening. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, as Hatters Spirit Day brought out the best in everyone, ending the week on a high note.

With themes that brought out creativity, teamwork, and a strong sense of community, spirit week 2024 at Danbury High School was amazing. It was a reminder of the unique school spirit that makes DHS a special place for every Hatter.