Autumn is the favorite season for many people. It’s the time for football games, changing leaves, the crowning of the Homecoming Queen, and the Homecoming Dance.

Wait a minute, why don’t we have a Homecoming dance?

A Homecoming dance is a semi-formal dance that takes place around the time of the Homecoming game. Students get creative with “promposals” for Homecoming, they get dressed up, and they have a great time making memories that will last forever.

Many surrounding high schools take part in this fun tradition including Altoona, Bishop Guilfoyle, Huntingdon, Bellefonte, and Hollidaysburg.

Why is Tyrone out of this loop?

In only three days, I collected 126 student and six teacher signatures on a petition supporting the idea that TAHS should host the dance next year.

One reason why Tyrone should have a Homecoming dance is there’s no better way to show school pride.

Traditionally, that’s what Homecoming is – alumni and students coming together to show school unity. A dance would be a celebration of our school community. Students would go to the dance and show everyone that we bleed orange and black.

Another reason why Tyrone should have a Homecoming dance is that proceeds from the dance could benefit a high school club. There is already plenty of support from the students for hosting the event, but a teacher would need to already host a club that would plan the dance or make a new club focused on it.

For example, two clubs can combine their brainpower and calculate the funding, supplies, and everything else needed for the dance. The dance could be a fundraiser, and the proceeds could be used for those clubs.

Teachers won’t need to worry about staying after school to chaperone a dance, and missing out on spending time with their families. Several parents of Tyrone students have already expressed interest in chaperoning the event, and since they work in the school and surrounding schools, they already have the proper background checks to help out.

Also, a Homecoming Dance would include all Tyrone Area High School Students. Unlike the prom, that is limited to juniors, seniors and their guests, grades 9-12 would be invited to congratulate the senior winners of the Homecoming court, and have a fun time with their peers.

Finally, let’s face it, the best reason to have a dance – IT’S FUN. Who doesn’t love a party? We are always being told “these are the best years of our lives.”

So let’s make the memories now while we still have the chance. A Homecoming Dance is a great part of the whole high school experience, and we should be able to get dressed up, get out, and dance.