Why do HSs have Homecoming dances when nobody goes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader went to the dance and had a blast. Came home and was talking about it with older sibs (who are no longer in HS) and they were saying how much fun they also had at that same age going to HoCo dances.
I don't understand why would we get rid of this? The younger kids have a great time and it's not like it's some hugely expensive affair. It's in the school gym.

I completely agree.

A big part of the experience is the 17 and 18 year olds rolling their eyes and saying they cannot imagine even setting a foot into the HoCo dance, even though they look back fondly on how much fun it was when they were freshmen.

It's only fun if youre a freshmen or sophomore.

It's like a kiddie coaster at Kings Diminion. It's fun when youre 5 yr old, but lame when youre older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grader went to the dance and had a blast. Came home and was talking about it with older sibs (who are no longer in HS) and they were saying how much fun they also had at that same age going to HoCo dances.
I don't understand why would we get rid of this? The younger kids have a great time and it's not like it's some hugely expensive affair. It's in the school gym.

I completely agree.

A big part of the experience is the 17 and 18 year olds rolling their eyes and saying they cannot imagine even setting a foot into the HoCo dance, even though they look back fondly on how much fun it was when they were freshmen.

I agree as well. My kids enjoyed it very much their Freshmen year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could do a different event?

That’s what I’m suggesting. -OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could do a different event?

That’s what I’m suggesting. -OP

Or maybe stop trying to micromanage everyone and just MYOB. Some kids clearly like these dances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they returned from covid, our FCPS high school administration organized a homecoming dance outside in the parking lot under the stars. They had several tents, food, photo booths and selfie stations, and more.

There was a staffed perimeter around the parking lot to prevent kids from sneaking in and out.

The dance was packed. Lots of upperclassmen attended. Everyone stayed until the end or for a large amount of time, instead of just making an appearance or skipping entirely.

I don't know how much exrra work it was, but shaking things up with something like moving it outside might be fun for the kids.


That being said, over the course of the 10+ years I have had high school kids, other than the outdoor post covid dance, the HoCo dance seems to go like this:

9th grade: "It was so much fun! Everyone was there. (The kids generally stay until the end)

10th grade: "It was ok. It didn't seem as crowded as last year." (Kids arrive a little late after dinner and pictures, then leave early to go to someone's house.)

11th grade: "We dropped in for around 15 minutes. It was soooo boring*." (Kids showed up around halfway through the dance, do a walk through, see no one but freshmen there, and leave for someone's house.)

* Note, the freshman sibling in attendance stayed for the entire dance and came home from the exact same dance saying the dance was packed, everyone was there, and it was so much fun.

12th grade: "We drove by after dinner but the parking lot was empty so we just went to the party."

The homecoming dances are mostly for freshmen and sophomores now.

My observation of my kids and friends’ kids since freshman year has been a day to dress up, go out to eat, then hang out with friends. They aren’t coming home … though a handful may go to the football game. Usually those are the kids whose parents are alums. There isn’t much coming together for anything among the students.

Truly, this event needs to be rethought.

-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could do a different event?

That’s what I’m suggesting. -OP

Or maybe stop trying to micromanage everyone and just MYOB. Some kids clearly like these dances.

I just don’t see the point of wasting parents, staff, and police time and effort on homecoming anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When they returned from covid, our FCPS high school administration organized a homecoming dance outside in the parking lot under the stars. They had several tents, food, photo booths and selfie stations, and more.

There was a staffed perimeter around the parking lot to prevent kids from sneaking in and out.

The dance was packed. Lots of upperclassmen attended. Everyone stayed until the end or for a large amount of time, instead of just making an appearance or skipping entirely.

I don't know how much exrra work it was, but shaking things up with something like moving it outside might be fun for the kids.


That being said, over the course of the 10+ years I have had high school kids, other than the outdoor post covid dance, the HoCo dance seems to go like this:

9th grade: "It was so much fun! Everyone was there. (The kids generally stay until the end)

10th grade: "It was ok. It didn't seem as crowded as last year." (Kids arrive a little late after dinner and pictures, then leave early to go to someone's house.)

11th grade: "We dropped in for around 15 minutes. It was soooo boring*." (Kids showed up around halfway through the dance, do a walk through, see no one but freshmen there, and leave for someone's house.)

* Note, the freshman sibling in attendance stayed for the entire dance and came home from the exact same dance saying the dance was packed, everyone was there, and it was so much fun.

12th grade: "We drove by after dinner but the parking lot was empty so we just went to the party."

The homecoming dances are mostly for freshmen and sophomores now.

My observation of my kids and friends’ kids since freshman year has been a day to dress up, go out to eat, then hang out with friends. They aren’t coming home … though a handful may go to the football game. Usually those are the kids whose parents are alums. There isn’t much coming together for anything among the students.

Truly, this event needs to be rethought.

-OP

Are you even in FCPS?

It might be specific to your own kids.

Our high school's homecoming game is PACKED with students, including seniors. The parade is well attended too

The freshmen are really into the dance. Sophomores, a little less.

Juniors and seniors might do a walk through at most, but they still spend all day dressing up, getting their hair and nails done, getting pictures with their friends and going for a fancy dinner.

There are plenty of freshmen and sophomres to make the homecoming dance special and fun.

Having all the upperclassmen attend would make it too crowded, too hot and too chaotic.

If even half of the student body shows up at the big schools, that would be 1400-1500 students.

The FCPS tradition of the dance attended by mostly 9th and 10th graders is perfectly fine.

We don't have to recreate homecoming circa 1988 to make the dance special. This works for the kids now. Let them have their fun traditions, even if it is not what you remember from 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could do a different event?

That’s what I’m suggesting. -OP

Or maybe stop trying to micromanage everyone and just MYOB. Some kids clearly like these dances.

I just don’t see the point of wasting parents, staff, and police time and effort on homecoming anymore.

OKAY! Everyone, cancel the parades and the dances now. NO MORE HOMECOMING

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could do a different event?

That’s what I’m suggesting. -OP

Or maybe stop trying to micromanage everyone and just MYOB. Some kids clearly like these dances.

I just don’t see the point of wasting parents, staff, and police time and effort on homecoming anymore.

So keep your kid at home. Done.

Stop trying to mucromange everyone else.

[Anonymous]

My kids went to homecoming dances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could do a different event?

That’s what I’m suggesting. -OP

Or maybe stop trying to micromanage everyone and just MYOB. Some kids clearly like these dances.

I just don’t see the point of wasting parents, staff, and police time and effort on homecoming anymore.

OKAY! Everyone, cancel the parades and the dances now. NO MORE HOMECOMING

The premise of this thread is very funny.

"If one mom doesn't like the idea of the homecoming dance, then no schools should have a homecoming dance"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP again, we're not in FCPS. Our demographics are like McLean/Langley.

Why do you keep posting in the fcps forum?

There are a bunch of other school forums- go troll there instead

+1
It's bizarre how private school parents and/or other public school district parents will post here to tell us how things are done at their schools. Who cares?

Got it. I'm just right across the river from you with a similar student body. And I should know, as an ex-FCPS HS teacher. Which is why I check this forum every once in a while (and post very rarely). And why I am checking this thread for ideas for my own PTSA for next year. Meanwhile DCUM is seeing an uptick in actual trolls who have no actual DMV life or experience and I have probably been on this site twice as long as you have. But if you really think I'm your problem, I guess I could show myself out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP again, we're not in FCPS. Our demographics are like McLean/Langley.

Why do you keep posting in the fcps forum?

There are a bunch of other school forums- go troll there instead

+1
It's bizarre how private school parents and/or other public school district parents will post here to tell us how things are done at their schools. Who cares?

Got it. I'm just right across the river from you with a similar student body. And I should know, as an ex-FCPS HS teacher. Which is why I check this forum every once in a while (and post very rarely). And why I am checking this thread for ideas for my own PTSA for next year. Meanwhile DCUM is seeing an uptick in actual trolls who have no actual DMV life or experience and I have probably been on this site twice as long as you have. But if you really think I'm your problem, I guess I could show myself out?

Soooo

Why don't you instead start a thread in the private schools forum or the Maryland schools forum where your kids actually live and attend, and try to cancel Maryland and private schools homecoming?

What purpose does a Maryland private school parent starting this thread in the FCPS forum serve other than trolling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they could do a different event?

That’s what I’m suggesting. -OP

Or maybe stop trying to micromanage everyone and just MYOB. Some kids clearly like these dances.

I just don’t see the point of wasting parents, staff, and police time and effort on homecoming anymore.

OKAY! Everyone, cancel the parades and the dances now. NO MORE HOMECOMING

The premise of this thread is very funny.

"If one mom doesn't like the idea of the homecoming dance, then no schools should have a homecoming dance"

It is even funnier now that she admitted she is from Maryland and sends her kids to private schools.

[Anonymous]

My son attended homecoming. I think everyone in his grade went. The kids all met at a house and everyone chipped in to get them a bus to and from the school. They had fun and then went to Chipotle or something like that. The school had card tables, corn hole, and some other activities in addition to the dance/dj.