The students of Kennebunk High School deserve to have their homecoming dance September 25, 2021. We learned, September 2, that our dance has been cancelled. However, the homecoming football game and parade will still take place. If these social activities can still happen, then the dance should be able to still take place as well.  Teenagers look forward to these moments all through school. The class of 2022 has already lost one homecoming in 2020 and their proms. This is their last opportunity to attend a homecoming dance.  I believe, that with some creative thinking and support, we can still have a safe dance. We, as student, need some of the normalcy that goes along with high school. This part of our lives is not only about education. We are building our memories to look back on for a lifetime.  If we are expected to attend in-person school five days a week, there is no reason that we can’t have an evening dance for 3 hours. This could be outside with masks on, if necessary. Or masks on inside like the school day.  And 80% of the students that can be vaccinated are vaccinated. If someone who is vaccinated is a close contact to a positive case, they are still attending school and don’t have to quarantine.  I personally have been looking forward to these dances for several years while watching my older  brother and cousins and friends prepare and enjoy their dances. I couldn’t wait to get to high school and go dress shopping and take photos and dance with my friends. I lost my entire freshman year of activities and events. I was so excited to see the dance on the calendar as we prepared to start school this year. We even cancelled reservations/plans for that weekend when we saw it on the calendar.  It was an unimaginable disappointment to find out it was cancelled 20 days before it’s scheduled date. I attended our home-opening football game Sept 2 where hundreds of people packed the stands to support the team. If this is acceptable, there has to be a solution for holding the dance. Please sign this petition to show your support in the belief that our dance should happen.