Smells Like Teen Drama

Thanks to Upper School parents Cathy Falkenberg and Parker MacDonell for this post!

A few words about the Homecoming dance:  Saturday, October 13 will bring the Upper School students together for the first of three dances this year. Homecoming dance…how long has it been since you attended one of these?  You probably can’t remember who you had as a date or what happened afterwards, though you likely do remember the feelings of anticipation and anxiety that swirl around in the minds of teenagers as these types of events approach.  It’s a good time to talk to your Upper School student and go over the ground rules that your family has established for these types of events.

This is typically the most casual of all the dances.  Many students choose to attend in groups, rather than with individual dates.  Keep in mind that many students like to get together for pre-dance dinners and plans can change by the second, turning what should be a simple and relaxed experience into an unnecessarily complicated one.  This offers another great opportunity for us, as parents, to offer suggestions regarding simple and inclusive gatherings.

We also appreciate your commitment to model healthy choices when you gather as parents and drive students to and from the dance.  We invite you to feel comfortable picking up the phone and checking in with other parents about plans, ideas or concerns.  Were our parents worried about these same issues when we went off to the fall dance at our high school?  You can bet they were, and you can also bet they would’ve given a lot to have cell phones and texting to keep in touch with us during our nights of high school celebration and freedom!

Here's to a fun and safe Homecoming for all!