On Sept. 20, LT celebrated Homecoming with the theme “A Night in Paris,” bringing together students, staff, families, alumni, and the community for a week filled with events leading up to the parade, football game, and dance. 

“Well, I just love the connectedness aspect of it,” Principal Jennifer Tyrrell said. “Homecoming brings people together who love our school and love our school community.”

One of the highlights of Homecoming is the parade, where clubs and activities of the LT community walk through the neighborhoods of La Grange and Western Springs. 

“You see so many amazing community members that care for our community, and I love that so many organizations get to be a part of it,” Tyrrell said.“It’s a really special thing. Honestly, I think it’s really unique to the LT community.” 

Student Council has worked throughout the summer and into the school year to prepare, with decorations, planning, and student involvement all playing a role. 

“I feel like this year we’re being very proactive in how we’re doing everything and we’re getting things done early,” Student Council Treasurer Mily Patel ‘26 said. “Last year, Student Council was a very big learning experience in how to do things efficiently. I feel like this year, everything is getting done on time and we’re making a lot of progress.” 

The night before the dance, members of the student council decorated the field house for the dance, providing yet another opportunity to promote unity within the community, Patel said. This year, longtime LT staff member and former Activities Director Kris Costopoulos has returned to help lead the Student Council’s efforts. For her, Homecoming holds both tradition and transformation.

“[My favorite part about homecoming would] probably be the school spirit it instills in almost everyone: students, teachers, and community,” Costopoulos said. “Alumni come back for their reunions, reminiscing about their high school days, while at the same time, the current students are making those very same memories, 2025-style.”

The work of transforming the field house space into a magical dance is one of her favorite challenges, Costopoulos said. The students should feel like they are in Paris, enjoying some patisseries at an outside cafe along the Seine overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

“Homecoming is the kickoff to the school year; it’s a sign that everything will go well for the year,” Patel said. “To me, it’s just very rewarding, and I feel very proud of myself, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished as a student council.”

For the whole LT community alike, Homecoming is more than a dance or a game; it’s about the memories and the unity it builds. 

“Celebrating our collective home is what homecoming is all about,” Costopoulos said. “We cheer on our athletes. We show the community our pride when we represent what we are involved in through our parade. We have fun with the spirit days and pep rallies. We go to the dance with our friends or on a date; either way is good. Bottom line, we are all making memories that will last a lifetime.”