Homecoming at MICDS is always more than a football game. It’s a community-wide opportunity to gather, celebrate, and have tons of fun. Everyone from our littlest learners in Junior Kindergarten to our outstanding leaders in the Class of 2023 shows off their Ram Pride, and we love welcoming all our families, both current and alumni, to campus.

Spirit Week

The whole week before Homecoming is packed with merriment. The student council leaders in the Upper School work with administrators to come up with a different theme for each day, encouraging all students (and faculty and staff!) to explore creativity through their clothing.

Monday: P»Jay» Day – Dress in your PJs OR as Head of School Jay Rainey! While most students opted for comfort, a few spruced up and showed up in full Rainey regalia, which typically means nice slacks, a button-down shirt, and a sport coat. One even managed to sport Mr. Rainey’s signature hairstyle.

Tuesday: Beach Day – Tank tops, board shorts, floaties, flip flops, and visors were all in abundance as our students celebrated Tuesday’s high temperatures with beachwear. 

Wednesday: Homecoming T-shirt Day – Every student, faculty, and staff member receives a commemorative Homecoming t-shirt designed by students, a beloved annual tradition. This year’s t-shirt was designed by Kelly Zhao ’24 (front) and Armaan Chandak ’24 (back). It’s so fun to see everyone sporting the same tee. 

Thursday: Multiples Day – By homeroom in the Lower School and by advisory in the Middle and Upper School, students showed their connections through matching colors and themed outfits. One Upper School advisory came as secret service agents while several others chose onesies. There was a set of pool balls, team jerseys, bikers, prisoners, and gym bros. 

Friday:  Spirit Day – Bust out your MICDS colors, Rams! Everyone arrived bedecked in red and green, ready to start the weekend early! The eighth-grade class sold spirit goodies (beads, blinkies, and thunder sticks) at drop-off, allowing families to add to their colorful legwarmers, deelie boppers, sunglasses, and face paint. The Varsity teams sported coordinated outfits, many with fun themes (think kilts, Plants vs. Zombies, babies, and more). A great way to kick off the rest of the festivities!

Pep Rally

The entire school gathered in the MAC for an amazing pep rally that featured rousing performances by our cheerleaders and an introduction of our varsity athletes. Awards (small stuffed rams) were given to those students who had expressed amazing school spirit throughout the week, and several other students were selected for a highly-competitive egg race.

Food Trucks

Friday night was right for dining! A variety of food trucks offering everything from pizza and hotdogs to Cajun fare and dessert were arrayed behind the MAC for our students and their families. With tables set up inside and outside the MAC, and thanks to the tarps and blankets of several enterprising families, everyone was able to enjoy a delicious dinner while reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. 

Parade and Bonfire

As night fell, guests started to hear the classic notes of bagpipes and drums of the Saint Louis Caledonian Pipe Band. This old Codasco tradition still rallies Rams fans to watch the cheerleaders and football players process to the bonfire field. Everyone gathered around while the senior football players lit the bonfire. The entire team then linked arms to sing the Codasco fight song: «Hear the crash, see the flash!» The Rams were ready to take on the Bombers!

Fun Run

Rams were back at campus bright and early, bedecked in yet more red and green, for the annual Fun Run between the MICDS and John Burroughs School campus. This is another cherished tradition where the families and alumni from both schools enjoy a spirited race or a leisurely walk together. Ready…set…go…it’s then off to the races for the varsity and junior varsity games!

Carnival & Barbecue

The family carnival on the MICDS campus behind Olson Hall is an annual tradition for our little Rams, who enjoy face painting, inflatables, games, and balloon artists. They wear themselves out and then enjoy a barbecue lunch behind the MAC with their parents and their older schoolmates. The community enjoyed hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers along with chips and Ted Drewe’s frozen custard in a picnic atmosphere in between cheering for our varsity teams competing on the JBS campus and the junior varsity teams competing at MICDS.

Ram Run

Homecoming culminated in the Varsity Football game, kicked off by the Ram Run. Students decked in white charged into the stadium at JBS, filling the student section and cheering on their team with gusto. The stands were packed for a great game where the Rams defeated the Bombers 44-3.

Thank you to all our Rams fans who cheered on our teams this year and to all who helped with our vibrant homecoming festivities. Join us next year for more Ram Nation fun, when all our varsity competitions will be hosted at home. Go Rams!