October 2025 - Homecoming
After the graduation of Grossmont High’s first senior class in 1921, Homecoming has been a tradition; however, over the past 105 years, while the details change, they always celebrate being a Foothiller.
In the 1920’s Homecoming was called “Alumni Day”; the celebrations varied, but often included an alumni play, a basketball game, a dance, and alumni attending classes of their favorite teachers. In 1930, the yearbook states, at “its annual “visiting day” at Grossmont…. as many “old grads” as can possibly do so return to the familiar haunts and halls of their alma mater to live again, for a while, in memories of the time when they, too, were students here.”
2025 Homecoming Queen Nayelli Grijalva and King Rams Jirgees, photo taken by Greg Wynn
2025 Homecoming Team running onto field photo Megan Long
Homecoming 2025 Foothiller Spirit Photo Megan Long
Totally 80's Halfime Show
Members of the Class of 1965 at the 1922 Castle Photographer Cat Fremo
This year’s Homecoming’s Theme was “Totally Grossmont 1980’s”. The week of September 22th-27th, the ASB class planned an amazing variety of activities, beginning with daily Dress-Up Days, culminating in a frenetic number of activities on Friday as shown in the ASB’s daily bulletin announcements.
Monday: MTV Monday (Wear your favorite band or concert t-shirt)
Tuesday: Denim Day
Wednesday: Workout Wednesday (Fitness clothes bright colors)
Thursday: 80’s Movie Character
Friday: Extreme BLUE & GOLD
Friday Homecoming Day & Evening:
Alarm Clock Pep Rally: 7:00 am - 8:55 am in the New Gym. This year we are back LIVE on KUSI showing the community why it is Great to be Young and a Foothiller! We will be live all morning on KUSI culminating with a 10 minute segment at 8:40 am.
EXTREME BLUE & GOLD 2nd Period Class Pictures: Students, come to school decked out in BLUE & GOLD. In 2nd period, teachers may take a picture. If their class has a higher percentage of BLUE & GOLD compared to other classes, they win a prize. If 50% or more of the class is dressed up, they will automatically win a prize!
Homecoming Pep Assembly: After period 2, in the New Gym, we will host our Homecoming Pep Assembly. Come for fun with Foothillers and Foothiller staff.
Homecoming Football Game GHS vs. Mira Mesa High School: There will be a half-time dance performance when we will reveal the 2025 GHS Homecoming Royalty Winners! We will also have a fireworks show at halftime!!!!!”
During the football game halftime show, Rans Jirjees was crowned Homecoming King. During the nomination process, Rans shared that “He has an immense appreciation for this homecoming experience and for his senior year. He'd like to thank his family, teachers, and coaches for the Foothiller ride these past 4 years. Rans is grateful to be on the Royalty court and sometimes thinks about how different his experience would have been at a different school since it couldn't ever live up “to being young and a Foothiller”.
Nayeli Grijalva was crowned Homecoming Queen. Nayeli shared that she “is beyond grateful for the once in a lifetime time opportunity to be on court, but to also experience it with some of her friends on court and her favorite girls on the sidelines. She’s so sad this is her last year with her sister Jassy but is going to cherish every moment they have. Lastly, she would like to thank her friends, coaches, and, most importantly, her family for shaping her into the person she is today and always providing nothing but love and support.”
Reflecting on the incredible variety of Homecoming week activities, ASB President Shayla Sterling shared that “One of the best parts about going to GHS is our school's spirit. People aren't afraid to commit to supporting our school's teams/spirit days and our award-winning student section is living proof of it.
My favorite part of the week was definitely the Homecoming football game, winning 36-13 over Mira Mesa. The student section was lively as students were decked out in our blue and gold.
There was a fantastic halftime performance by our cheerleading and dance teams paired with iconic 80's music and clever choreography. The halftime show also incorporated a marvelous firework show as the highly anticipated homecoming queen and king were revealed. Students joined together to sing “Sweet Caroline” as confetti-poppers were dismantled on beat to the song, creating a neon cloud representing the 80's undertones of our Homecoming.
And of course, the main event was a successful 80's themed dance with endless fun. The dance provided amenities such as food trucks and live music featuring the band Slowtide. Students swayed to the music one moment and jumped up and down singing loudly to lyrics at the next. The decor provided fun games for attendees to play like giant Jenga, Connect 4 and a retro painted cornhole set. Bright neon lights were projected onto the walls of the venue, as well as CO2 dispensers spread into the crowd for a dramatic effect on the music.
Overall, Homecoming was a memorable experience as staff also contributed to the success of the 80s theme with their love/nostalgia for the decade bleeding into their students' enthusiasm for Homecoming during the week.”
While the details of Foothiller “Homecomings” evolve over the years and decades, the spirit of our alumni is ever present when they visit the campus. October 4th, members of the Class of 1965 visited the museum as part of their 60th Reunion. Some of them took a tour of the campus tour, where they celebrated the new buildings and improvements on campus and relived their memories of being a Grossmonter.
In the choir room, several students “broke into song”, singing the Grossmont Hymn, at times laughing and faltering a bit at some of the words. But on the tour, they were excited to see that the “foundations” of their Foothiller experiences were still evident.
Under the guidance of Deanna Brady Sampson, the Class of 1965 has left its footprints on the campus in many ways: its donation of 3 campus benches, 1 facing at the stadium donated in 2010, one celebrating their 50th Reunion facing the museum donated in 2015, one facing the GHS Office which celebrates the first graduating class, the Class of 1921, donated in 2015; and in the office lobby, a free-standing showcase donated in 2016. In addition, in 2016, class member Ginger Cheney and her husband Jim Belilove created a dramatic marble floor medallion of the original 1920 GHS logo in the office lobby.
Obviously, GHS Alumni don’t limit their “Homecomings” to specific days of the year. To learn how you can leave your footprints on campus, contact us for ways for you to become part of an amazing tradition of giving back to Grossmont High School.
Visit the GHS Museum
10-1 Saturdays, November 8th and December 13th
OR
Fridays by prior appointment when school is in session
Contact: