While browsing the district calendar, Aniskha Bhatia, junior, was disappointed to see that MHS and LHS are holding Homecoming on the same day, Saturday, Sept. 23, as her date goes to LHS.

“It’s just annoying because I feel bad that he has to come here and miss out on his own homecoming,” Bhatia said. 

Though she had been excited to attend both dances, Bhatia said she and her date decided to attend MHS Homecoming. Her date will bring his friends from LHS to the MHS dance as well. 

Having to compromise was frustrating, Bhatia said, and she found it unfair. 

“The schools are so close in distance, so obviously there’s going to be a lot of dates and relationships with people from across the two schools,” Bhatia said. 

Though this date has caused issues for students, Adam Starling, activities director, said this decision wasn’t up to MHS administration. 

Starling said the dance is based on home football dates, which are set on a two-year cycle by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). With only four home games this year, Starling said Saturday, Sept. 23, was the only date that worked for the three-week period Homecoming is always held in. 

“You can’t make Homecoming the first game,” Starling said. “And then toward the end of the season, now you’re getting too late to have a homecoming.”

Starling also said each school has its own activities and events to plan around. 

“Everything’s decided in-building,” Starling said. “So we don’t consider their building calendar and they don’t look at ours.”

Sam Barton, sophomore, found himself in the same position recently and has had trouble planning around the inconvenience. 

“It’s a huge mess,” Barton said. 

Barton said he had contemplated the idea of attending both, and preferred to attend his school’s dance, but plans to just go to LHS’ as it seemed to be the option with the least amount of conflict.