I survived another Homecoming Week! It’s not that I really do any of the heavy lifting when it comes to planning and implementing the plethora of events for the week, it’s that I expend a great amount of emotional energy. Will the weather be OK for the Power Puff game? Will the tape from the cafeteria decorations ruin the fresh summer paint job? Will the boys’ “dance team” be dressed appropriately? Will the pep fest take that very quick and easy turn toward out of control? And on a more poignant note, will some students opt out of the semi-formal dance because they can’t afford the real cost of attendance for the evening?
A ticket to the dance is $10—fairly reasonable. The other parts of the night get a little dicey. The hair, the nails, the shoes, the dress. There's also the dinner, the party bus, the flowers, the suit and tie—and this is just Homecoming. Should students and their families really have to spend so much money for one night? At Benilde-St. Margaret’s, we have been discussing the concept of simplicity for the past year. We believe we can have excellent and exciting experiences without going overboard on spending.
Our Parent Association came up with a great phrase for BSM events: "nice, not extravagant." Kudos also go to our Homecoming faculty advisors for sending some good advice to parents and students about the dance such as: skip the limo or party bus, choose a reasonably priced restaurant or cook at home, pass on the new shoes and opt for the broken-in pair from last year, and borrow a dress and accessorize to “spiff it up.” Did every student follow this advice? No, not every student….but enough to make me think we are on the right track.
