Homecoming, Parade: A Generational Celebration
Castro Valley High School’s Homecoming last week was the school’s annual celebration of its students, who, along with their teachers and parents, made the week memorable for the entire community.
More than 400 students marched along with their classroom advisors and parent volunteers. The procession emerged from the school parking lot on Santa Maria and continued across to Wilson Avenue and down Redwood Road before returning to the campus in front of the football field.
Principal Christopher Fortenberry, Assistant Principal Tracy Fields, and Redwood Continuation High School Principal Ken Kahn led this year's parade on motorcycles.
“It’s a great day to be out here in the community. We have very spirited students,” Principal Fortenberry told the Forum.
Close behind the administrators marched the CVHS Marching Band, which played popular tunes such as “Sweet Caroline” and Castro Valley’s fight song. The Boys Varsity Football team followed the band, sporting their green jerseys. Each class's homecoming court representatives preceded the class floats and participants, starting with the Freshman Class of 2028 and ending with the Senior Class of 2025.
This year’s overall theme was Nintendo’s Mario Kart, a popular video game franchise where the characters navigate crazy driving courses and often spoil the progress of the other drivers to get ahead.
“Spirit Week has been so fantastic for my son Caleb,” parent Faith Carroll told the Forum. “I barely saw him this week, and when he came home, he was covered in blue because he was the tallest to work on the dinosaur in the float.”
As students rushed into the stadium for the skits and rally, parents found their seats, ready to cheer on the performances.
“I’ve lived here for 13 years now, and I’ve watched the parade in previous years,” Shawna Brown said. “So, it's just exciting to have my daughter Lacy part of it now. I grew up in Hayward we didn’t have anything like this when I went to high school.”
Homecoming week was very special for the Pacheco family, as four generations gathered to celebrate. The family has been enjoying the Castro Valley Homecoming parade for multiple decades. While Sophomore Paige Pacheco marched along, her father, Carl (Class of 97), towed the float. Mother Jessica (Class of 97) stood alongside Paige’s grandfather, George, and great-grandmother, Edna, cheering Paige on.
“It's fun to see the groups of kids and how they come together and work,” Jessica Pacheco said. “A lot of the kids are not necessarily friends before Spirit Week but they come together and work on the floats together, meet new people, and make friends.”