There was no doubt Bulldogs of all ages were happy to be celebrating a “normal” Homecoming Week experience at Bolles – spirit on all four campuses was at an all-time high.

This year, all Bolles campuses participated in dress-up theme days during Homecoming Week which provided wonderful camaraderie and equal excitement between peers. Theme days for the lower and middle school campuses included Pajama Day, Superheroes Day, Disney Day, Crazy Socks and Hats Day and Spirit Day. Upper school students experienced a similar schedule, but their themes were based around the superhero motif. For a vast collection of theme day photos from all four campuses, visit our online gallery here. Each day of Homecoming Week on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus included a Best Dressed Contest, a dodgeball tournament, games on the lawn in front of Bolles Hall and special vendor visits including ice cream. Throughout the week, upper school students and faculty were able to vote on their selection from the Homecoming Court. The 2021 Homecoming Court includes senior students: Maddie Crawford, Su Ertekin-Taner, D’yasia Ford, Braden Gray, Yasmeen Ibrahim, Emma Joost, Maddie Popp, Taylor Richardson, Emily Rohan, Hadley Ropp, Avery Turner, Ryan Anderson, Sean Breuer, Louis Body, Max Crisco, Andrew Fallon, Ander Kelley, Miller Lockwood, Ben McGraw, Graham Moore, Joey Morris, Tyler Schmipff, Christopher Tanner and Jakhye Wilkins.

The 2021 Homecoming Sweethearts, selected by votes from their peers and upper school faculty, were announced on Hodges Field during halftime of the Homecoming football game October 29. This year's Homecoming Sweethearts were Avery Turner '22 and Jakhye Wilkins '22. For photos from the Homecoming Court announcement and other halftime festivities, visit our online gallery here.

On Wednesday of Homecoming Week, students from more than 50 Bolles service and special interest clubs hosted a Halloween Carnival for children served by Sanctuary on 8^th Street. The event, held on the River Campus on a pristine fall afternoon, included booths lining the sidewalks. Students and children engaged in activities, games and seasonal treats. Enjoy photos from the carnival here. Later that night, students gathered on Hodges Field for the annual Gridiron Football Game, which pitted the Senior Women against the Junior Women for an evening of friendly football fun.

Thursday of Homecoming Week was set to begin with a charge on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus, which had planned to host its own Pep Rally for the student body. Heavy rains that morning changed plans. The pep rally is now scheduled for early next week.  The rain also dampened plans for the annual Dreams Come True Club’s Pumpkin Drop from the south tower of Bolles Hall. It also has been rescheduled for next week.

Homecoming Week 2021 culminated Friday with many seasonal and celebratory events. The day began with Costume Parades on both the Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach and Lower School Whitehurst campuses. Students paraded through their campus communities and shared their seasonal spirit with peers, faculty and parents lining the sidewalks. Costume fun was the theme of the day on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus, where creativity was abundant! The Upper School San Jose Campus had a special shortened schedule to accommodate all the Homecoming fun planned for the afternoon (see photo gallery here). The School hosted a riverfront picnic on the bluff, where students watched the parade of Homecoming Court members drive by in convertibles. Following the parade, students made their way to the Skinner-Barco Stadium for a pep rally and then ascended on the Bolles Hall lawn for games, food and Homecoming celebration. On the evening of October 29, Bolles plans to take on Miami’s Tru Prep for the big Homecoming football game. For photos from the halftime Homecoming Court announcement and the game – which included a tailgate party, a middle school cookout and donor tent – visit this gallery soon.