SCHOOL NEWS
Homecoming for MMSD High School
By Maia S Rosenthal
On September 22, MMSD announced that Madison West, East, Memorial, and La Follete high schools will not be holding a homecoming dance. This caused an uproar from unhappy students and parents. After a year without many West traditions, some students hoped for a relatively normal school year, including an expressed interest for a homecoming dance.
Going back to school in person and trying to re-adapt to the environment has been hard on many: parents, teachers, and especially students. After spending a year inside, various West students have stated that the normalcy of a dance would reinvigorate the student body, a welcome return to a West tradition.
One student, Dani Deangeles, formed a petition to bring back the homecoming dance, albeit with safety modifications; within a week, the petition had over 2,500 signatures from high schoolers across the district. Simon Yang, the West Student Council president; Olga Gatesi, the BSU president; and Dani Deangeles, the creator of the petition, were interviewed by local news channels where they talked about their hopes for this year as a whole, as well as the possibility of a dance this year.
West student leaders are prioritizing a “normal” high school experience. The issue of equity was brought up in the petition description: while some students may organize their own events to replace homecoming, these smaller gatherings are not inclusive of all students.
Coming together and having a fun, a safe homecoming would be a special thing that all the students could remember for a long time. The fact that some students may organize an alternative event for the dance could mean more safety and Covid precautions may be overlooked. A school sponsored and chaperoned dance might create a safer environment for teenagers.
The pandemic is still a large issue of concern in Dane County. The safety of the students and staff is a number one priority. However, the CDC guidelines do not restrict an outdoor masked dance, while MMSD has its own Covid restrictions. Students have brought up that MMSD holds unmasked football and other outdoor sporting events. The inconsistency shown through the district is the main source of the confusion for the students and parents concerned over this issue. After the petition, and after local news picked up the story, MMSD stated that they do not recommend cancelation of the dance. It is now looking like a homecoming dance—masked and outdoors—may be on the horizon for high school students in the Madison area.
On September 22, MMSD announced that Madison West, East, Memorial, and La Follete high schools will not be holding a homecoming dance. This caused an uproar from unhappy students and parents. After a year without many West traditions, some students hoped for a relatively normal school year, including an expressed interest for a homecoming dance.
Going back to school in person and trying to re-adapt to the environment has been hard on many: parents, teachers, and especially students. After spending a year inside, various West students have stated that the normalcy of a dance would reinvigorate the student body, a welcome return to a West tradition.
One student, Dani Deangeles, formed a petition to bring back the homecoming dance, albeit with safety modifications; within a week, the petition had over 2,500 signatures from high schoolers across the district. Simon Yang, the West Student Council president; Olga Gatesi, the BSU president; and Dani Deangeles, the creator of the petition, were interviewed by local news channels where they talked about their hopes for this year as a whole, as well as the possibility of a dance this year.
West student leaders are prioritizing a “normal” high school experience. The issue of equity was brought up in the petition description: while some students may organize their own events to replace homecoming, these smaller gatherings are not inclusive of all students.
Coming together and having a fun, a safe homecoming would be a special thing that all the students could remember for a long time. The fact that some students may organize an alternative event for the dance could mean more safety and Covid precautions may be overlooked. A school sponsored and chaperoned dance might create a safer environment for teenagers.
The pandemic is still a large issue of concern in Dane County. The safety of the students and staff is a number one priority. However, the CDC guidelines do not restrict an outdoor masked dance, while MMSD has its own Covid restrictions. Students have brought up that MMSD holds unmasked football and other outdoor sporting events. The inconsistency shown through the district is the main source of the confusion for the students and parents concerned over this issue. After the petition, and after local news picked up the story, MMSD stated that they do not recommend cancelation of the dance. It is now looking like a homecoming dance—masked and outdoors—may be on the horizon for high school students in the Madison area.
