This year’s Homecoming Dance, scheduled for Oct. 28, has experienced a variety of new additions, including the integration of the 9th grade in its celebrations and its date falling on the weekend of Halloween. Homecoming is a relatively new event at Marlborough, as the first iteration of this event occurred only last year. While changes are to be expected, these shifts have generated some concerns among the Marlborough community.  

Dean of Upper School Kendall Beeman explained that Homecoming traditionally corresponds to a varsity sport, which many 9th grade students at Marlborough participate in alongside upperclassmen. By incorporating the 9th graders, the Upper School deans aim to create a more authentic and spirited Homecoming experience.

“It felt necessary to include all of high school in these celebrations,” Beeman said. “Our high school teams will be in playoffs, we will have purple pride days and the Athletic Recognition ceremony. It will be a fun week to include all of high school.”

With more people included in the event, some students think that there will be less pressure to the dance and, as a result, a more enjoyable environment. Furthermore, some students agree that Homecoming will serve as a transition for 9th graders into high school.

“I think there are lots of things that 9th graders are excluded from because they aren’t technically part of Upper School, but I don’t think Homecoming should be one,” Christina ‘24 said. “I’m definitely in favor of 9th grade participating.”

Aside from the inclusion of 9th grade, the date of Homecoming has sparked some disputes, as it falls on “Halloweekend,” and is also just a few days before the Nov. 1 deadline for early decision college applications.

“I obviously can’t speak for every senior because everyone’s college process looks different, but while I’m excited about the Halloween festivities, I don’t think it’s the greatest timing with early decision [deadlines] coming that following week,” Eliza ‘24 said. “I know a lot of people are planning on not going because of that reason exactly.”

 12th Grade Dean Ilyana Contreras addressed this concern by explaining that this decision was more focussed on prioritizing religious inclusivity. Contreras said that many religious observances, including Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, reside in the fall, leaving few weekends open for this event. 

“We collectively, as the deans, wanted to make sure that as many of our students could participate in the dance as possible,” Contreras said. “It’s the right thing to do and prioritizing the overall student experience will always be our central focus in student events.”