Long Beach High School made a strong comeback with its 2021 Homecoming after the 2020 festivities were impacted by the pandemic. Oct. 15 marked a day of traditions and a strong win for the Marines. The football game and carnival drew attendees of all ages and halftime activities featured performances and celebrations.

The bleachers at Veterans Field were filled with fans dressed in blue, cheering on the football players as they defeated Glen Cove with a score of 28-14. The marching band and cheerleaders boosted enthusiasm throughout the evening and took the spotlight at halftime, along with the color guard. The community’s youth football players had the opportunity to run across the field and Alex Marsland and Brigitte Lew were crowned homecoming king and queen.

The annual homecoming carnival, sponsored by the high school’s Student Government Organization, was held in the middle school parking lot behind the gymnasium and featured an assortment of family fun. Several booths representing different clubs showcased students’ work.

The annual afternoon pep rally was held at the high school’s Alumni Field and featured the introduction of teams, a preview of the halftime performances and other demonstrations of school spirit. Attendees cheered on their classmates and gave extra shout-outs to the seniors who were participating in their final homecoming as high school students. Games brought friendly competition, including a student/faculty sponge challenge that raised funds for the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation.

The Long Beach Public Schools Athletic and Special Education Departments have partnered with Surf for All to introduce Life Skills students to the ocean’s soothing, healing and strengthening powers. This program is a new development in the district and was held for two weeks in September, with additional spring sessions anticipated for 2022.

Surf for All instructors paddled out with students and guided them through the excitement of standing up on their boards and riding waves to shore. The students smiled and cheered as they overcame fears, developed new strengths and soared across the water’s surface.

Surf for All is dedicated to assisting individuals and exposing them to the ocean, helping to cultivate a joy for surfing as well as maximizing surfing potential. The non-profit organization believes the ocean is a source of healing and spiritual strength that should be accessible to all.

“You can’t believe the giant smiles on these students’ faces when they actually surf for the first time,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Gallagher said. “Surfing is a great metaphor for education: it’s about harnessing knowledge, experiencing the excitement of discovery, and finding new ways to move forward. And in Long Beach, EVERY child gets to ‘catch that wave’ if they want to!”

Long Beach High School students explored postgraduate options during a series of “Colleges in the Commons” college fairs held throughout September and early October. Students had the opportunity to visit various booths in the commons and explore colleges and branches of the military. Representatives were on-site to answer questions and share materials.

The high school has also arranged for numerous sessions with college representatives. A full calendar is available on the LBHS Counseling Department website at https://sites.google.com/lbeachg.org/lbhscounselingdepartment/explore/college-career-planning?authuser=0.