Homecoming Festivities

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Homecoming Festivities
17
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 11:42am

What sort of homecoming festivities does your teens high school offer?

DD's homecoming is next weekend. She is quite upset that the school administration planned the homecoming dance on the same day as the homecoming game -- in fact, the dance is immediately following game -- and has downgraded it from last years' semi-formal event, to a casual, 'come as you went to the game', event.

DD is convinced the dance won't be any fun at all, because 'half the fun is getting all dressed up and seeing the boys dressed up in jackets and ties' and is so far, not planning on going to the dance, just the game. She says some of the girls are planning on bringing dresses to the game and changing in the bathrooms before the dance so they can dress up a little.

I think the school wants to discourage and do-away with the over-the-top and ostentatious display of teenage indulgence that took place last year -- expensive dresses, hair and make-up, some boys even rented tuxes, fancy dinners out, the after parties ... and the limos! I have never seen so many limousines in one place in all my life -- and types I didn't even know existed -- hummer limos, bus limos, 'party' limos -- they looked like little nightclubs inside! It was very nearly obscene and probably rivaled any red carpet event in Hollywood. Truly, I was aghast and felt only a little out-of-place pulling into the pick-up lane behind all of them in my Ford Freestyle - lol.

I can't say I'M all that disappointed in all of this, but DD sure is! What sort of homecoming festivities are tyical in your town?




Edited 10/5/2006 11:47 am ET by hydrangea_blue

 

 

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 11:50am

Hi Julie - I just wanted to say hello because we are on at the same time. It rained here last night! We don't usually get rain this early in October. It should be sunny again by this weekend.

As for homecoming, I can't really help you there because as far as I know, my teens aren't going and ds has never gone. I think he went to the game once, maybe he'll go this year but not the dance. Neither of them are "dance" people because they are serious rock and rollers (they would DIE to hear me describe them that way) and hate rap which is all they play at the dances. They also don't like the "freaking" or "dirty dancing" for which I'm grateful.

As far as I'm concerned, I might pay for a limo to the senior prom but I think the parents and the display you describe sounds obscene alright. Geesh.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 12:02pm

Good morning to you too, Marie! How is your day so far? I'm getting ready to put on my running shoes and go for morning walk. (I don't run - lol) I usually go walking in the evenings when it's cooler, but this morning is very pleasant so far.

Wow ... you got rain? While it has cooled down quite a bit, it is still ridiculously hot down here. I think it was 81 degrees yesterday. Today is actually cloudy and it was below 60 when I took DS to school at 7:15.

I thought DD's attitude towards homecoming was a hoot. No fancy dress, no dance. I'm also grateful that DD doesn't like the dirty or freak dancing trend either ... she just likes to go and dance with her friends ... a big huge free-for-all with everyone dancing all over the place and with each other. What she'd really like is some good old-fashioned one-on-one dancing -- where the boys ask the girls to dance, then guide them onto the dance floor for a waltz or something, (she's a hopeless romantic!) anything that doesn't involve somebody's private parts at too close a proximity (ha! she's a prude, too!)

What are the chances of my DD ever meeting up with your DS? She'd love to meet a nice boy like him! Oh ... and did I mention she plays guitar? She even has a really cool and shocking pink electric one! She's not much into the screamo music though ... more ballads and folk songs, hymns ... that sort of thing ... (tee hee)

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-1998
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 12:14pm

My DD was also a bit disappointed to find that her school's homecoming dance was scheduled immediately following the game and was casual.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 12:52pm
Every time one of my kids thinks it won't be fun, and goes to the event anyway, they end up having fun. Wow, the dances have gotten extravagant. Much like the show "Sweet 16". When I was growing up (lol, sounding like a parent), our dances like Homecoming and Prom, were considered couples only. We have now lived in two small towns, and I wonder if that's why the kids go "stag". My dd's have been very reasonable about their dresses, expectations, etc. One wants to stay home for pizza instead of going out to eat, and my sophomoret is standing up for the freshman that some of her classmates do't want in the limo by not riding in it. This same group took a limo last year, which my dd thinks is not necessary. I think it would be nice to have time to eat and get ready for the dance after the game, which was how it was when I was in school (game, dance same day), but it's a day and evening with friends having fun!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2006
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 1:35pm
Our high school has a big pep rally during school, game that night (it's a Friday). It seems most of the entire HS walks across the street for a bite to eat after, at all the local places - hundreds of kids, funny to see, lol. Our homecoming dance is the following night and yes, here they really do it up as you described. Too much for me personally, it's not a prom, but ends up costing the same! Btw, last year they began a new policy here - only HS students who attend our school may go to the dance - meaning if your bf/gf attends the other HS (maybe a mile away), they couldn't come.
Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 1:54pm
Well, seeing as I am from a small town in West Texas (Friday Night Lights, anyone??), homecoming here is all about football! LOL It starts on Thursday night with a huge bonfire and car bash out in the country. You never have to worry about how to find it, just follow the cars. Most of the town attends! Of course, the football boys are out there with their jerseys on and the cheerleaders are there to lead cheers, etc. On Friday afternoon there is a kind of "parade" with the marching band leading the players and they go thru and around the school, "picking up" so-to-speak the kids in all the classes. They all fall in behind the football players and march to the football field. The hometown stands are already pretty full with all the towns people waiting for the pep rally. To be honest, sitting up in the stands and watching the band come in with the football players and all the school kids behind them, well, it was just pretty neat. (Of course, my kid was a senior football player that year, so I'm sure that had something to do with it!!) I think all during the week at school, the kids chose the girls for the Homecoming court. The football boys choose the girl out of that group to be Queen. At half-time during the game, the girls are driven around the track in convertibles to wave at the crowd. They are introduced and the Queen is announced. Then, it's back to the game! Homecoming dance?? I think so, but usually the younger kids are the ones that go (9th & 10th graders). The older kids (jr & sr) are now much too cool to go to a school sponsered dance! LOL The dance is usually held right after the game (if I remember correctly) and the kids have all pretty much dressed nicely for the game anyway (better to show off those ENORMOUS mums, you know).
Avatar for kel7col4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 2:28pm

Our homecoming game is Oct. 20th, but for some odd reason, the school is having spirit week next week. Tuesday is red, white and blue day. Wed. is souvenir shirt day. Thursday is Dress up day and Friday is school colors day with a pep rally. The next Friday there is another pep rally for the actual homecoming. DD14 is a cheerleader and has to be involved with all the festivities. Homecoming game is the 20th and the Homecoming dance is on the 21st. Ours is still "over the top" dress. Should be interesting and I was blown away as to what all went with the 8th grade graduation!! I know everyone is on pins and needles this year for the homecoming game. Our school won the last 2 state championships and is undefeated again this year. Ranked #3 in the state....the team we play for our homecoming just beat the #1 team in the state last weekend and beat them bad! They are new to Class A and boy are they making a name for themselves!

eta: Apparently as I posted the new state rankings came out. The team we play is now #1 and we are #2....what a bummer it would be to lose our homecoming!!




Edited 10/5/2006 2:36 pm ET by kel7col4



iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2005
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 7:20pm

No Homecoming at all here, as far as I know. DD's school is known for *not* having a big sports program.

Now that I got up and checked - there's something marked Homecoming on the school calendar, but it's 12/22 (before vaction) and certainly not tied to a football game. Guess I'll find out what that is when it's closer.

DD's HS doesn't do too many dances either, which is too bad. I think it's because many of the kids live an hour or more from the school, so a nighttime dance would either mean kids traveling home at night on the subway or parents driving late at night.

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2006
Thu, 10-05-2006 - 8:16pm

Homecoming is semi-big here. At school there is spirit week with themed days. Tomorrow is the peprally and then the game. My kids dont get limos or anything extravagent for the dance unless they pay for it themselves. My son, Kelan, paid for a limo for his junior prom and I chipped into his senior one. My Jade and Marissa's homecoming is coming weekend. Jade is no longer going, due to an injury, but Marissa is and is very excited. Kelan may go to the game with some friends, but I don't know for sure.

Natalie

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-1998
Fri, 10-06-2006 - 11:19am
The HS where my stepfather teaches in FL goes ALL OUT for homecoming!
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