The 2024 2025 school year is the 50th year since the establishment of Northbrook High School at Raider Circle Dr. The Bandoleras wanted to celebrate the 50th year by having the alumni come back and join the 50th line in a homecoming performance.
The Bandoleras started by reaching out to past alumni and posting all over social media about the reunion. The Bandoleras were not expecting to get over 100 alumni to sign up and participate in the dance. The 50th line got straight to work and putting the performance together. There were 3 practices in total of 2 hours only. In the first practice they learned the first half of the routine. The alumni were so over joy to be reunited with there friends of many years ago. At the end of practice the assistant director, Ms. Sharp decided that everyone should go to there core groups to reminisce on past traditions. They did core song, school song, and fight song. Throughout the years the tradition routines have evolved. The second practice they learned the second half of the dance. While they were coming in to check in they paid for their t-shirt that they would wear during the performance.
Leading up to the performance the last practice consisted of going out and putting the routine on the field. They practiced their entrance, exit, and standing on the correct yard marker. They walked on left following the Colonel’s whistle. The alumni were organized from the 70s all the way to 2020s.
During one of the practices, Mrs. Salazar volunteered to photograph the special occasion. At the end of practices there was a group picture featuring all the past alumni. There were also individual pictures. In one of the pictures is a group of 5 carrying one of the alumni in her split.
The homecoming game had finally arrived and it was at Tully stadium where the celebration took place. As soon as the game started at 7pm alumni started to arrive at Tully. Everyone practiced during the first half of the game to prepare for the performance. While the alumni practiced, excitement and the nerves kicked in. They did a big prayer circle and chanted, “You got to want it to win it and we want it back, you got to want it to win it and we want it back.” Second quarter had ended and it was time to go to the field and perform. Everyone got into formations to walk on. They walked on left as the crowd cheered. Colonel blew her whistle as the show was about to begin. The Northbrook band begin to play “Celebration” and the moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived.
The Bandolera Alumni danced their hearts away as they performed on the field once more. After many years, the bright lights and the sound of the crowed cheering brought back so many memories of their years as Bandoleras.
