With time to spare in the Tangled-themed Homecoming, the Class of 2027 brought their spin on Spirit Week to count down the days until the official dance.
Posted on their Instagram @maldenco27, the senior student council announced themes the student body would represent throughout the week leading to a night under the lights in Malden High’s courtyard. With the five days and varied themes, students and faculty put in the effort to show their creativity.
The first day, marking the start of spirit week, was Disney Day. Students were to dress as their favorite Disney character to pay tribute to the Disney movie-themed homecoming. Despite the gloomy weather, many came in wearing hair accessories or similar costumes to existing Disney characters.
Students went on to dress up as many different Disney icons such as Moana, Minnie Mouse, Stitch, and a plethora of other characters, displaying the connections and adoration for the characters they grew up with.
“I was Max last year, and I can never get sick of it,” shared Senior Activities Coordinator Raquel Ferreira, who dressed up as Max Goof from the animated series Goof Troop. “It makes me look back at all the things I miss because of nostalgia,” she added.
Despite the number of costumes, many students were not able to dress up due to the weather. The gloomy, rainy day resulted in some students feeling less motivated to dress up—feeling that it was too much effort. Even so, the next day was going to be something more convenient, resulting in more students getting involved.
Next was Adam Sandler Day; dressing in baggy, comfortable clothes matching the style of the popular actor Adam Sandler. Students were able to express themselves in a simpler manner compared to Disney Day.
“I had fun being able to dress down,” shared senior Kailey Bae. “Even if it took the least amount of effort, I had fun with my friends and taking pictures,” Bae remarked. Many students arrived in baggy sweatpants, jorts, oversized shirts, baseball caps, and slides to mimic iconic outfits that Sandler had worn throughout his career, movies, and red carpets.
On Wednesday, the theme was Dress as Your Grade. Everybody was assigned different ages to represent their grade. Freshmen were babies, sophomores were toddlers, juniors were adults, and seniors were senior citizens. The school was scattered with walkers and pacifiers, as students were able to express themselves in humorous ways to differentiate their grade level.
Being able to rewind in time, the theme on Thursday was a 2016 Throwback; students were able to be nostalgic and take the fashion trends that were popular a decade ago. Distinct digital-age aesthetics like Tumblr and Instagram, skinny denim and leggings, chokers, jumpsuits, and crop tops were all articles of clothing that defined 2016 fashion.
“This was the theme I was most looking forward to,” senior Event Coordinator Wongel Yohonnes shared, who dressed in a denim jacket and black leggings. She continued by sharing how she and her friends coordinated their outfits to demonstrate their spirit and enthusiasm for the day. 2016 was a major hit, not just due to the nostalgia many students felt, but also through a form of shared connection: many students were too young during this time to follow the trends they saw, and this theme allowed them to relive an era they were too young to live to the fullest.
To end Spirit Week, Friday concluded with Bikers vs. Surfers, honoring last year’s Class of 2027’s Junior Varieties theme. Picking a side between being a surfer—decked in Hawaiian shirts, tropical prints, cropped tops, retro swim trunks— or being a biker—clad in leather jackets, denim, and aviators.
The theme carried on through the Homecoming Football game, as the Tornados were pushed in a hard-fought game against Everett’s Crimson Tides; bikers and surfers filled the stands and cheered while watching the heated rivalry between the two teams.
Although the game did not go well for the Tornados, Malden students brought highlights to the game by cheering in faith for their team by rising when senior Akre Akre was able to return a kickoff and score a touchdown, giving Malden a form of hope and enjoyment to what Friday Night Lights can be for a Homecoming night.
All the spirit carried over to Saturday night, as the Class of 2027 would transform the courtyard into an amazing space for the Tangled-themed dance. Students came dressed head-to-toe in sparkling purple dresses, with some blending medieval styles and styles popularized in the 2020s showing the various ways that students express themselves.
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