Homecoming: the time of year where stress levels are high and heels are higher, but CHS students cherish it nonetheless.

Students choose their side of the spectrum every year— to attend the dance, or skip it and move right into pictures and a party, or to stay home and watch Netflix instead.

Seventy-nine percent of CHS students surveyed anonymously online said that the importance of homecoming differs from grade to grade. Twenty-six of the 48 who commented felt that freshman and seniors were more likely to attend to experience their first and last homecoming.

“The dance is very overrated,” said junior Ashley*, who is identified with a fake name here for anonymity. “I did not want to pay the money this year. I love homecoming but it’s a shame the dance is the worst part.”

Freshman Anaya Greig, on the other hand, is excited about attending her first homecoming.

“The dance is really important to me because you get to see all the hard work that the SGA and teachers have put into it just to make sure that we have a good time,” Greig said.

School president and senior Sophia Giavotto and the SGA looked for ways to improve the dance this year.

“Each year’s homecoming is different and the senior class is definitely doing everything in our power to make this homecoming better,” Giavotto said. “We have a different DJ and the decorations are going to be completely different.”

However, some CHS students won’t see the changes.

Of the 54% in the survey of 90 who reported that they will be attending the dance, 21% said they will be staying for less than 30 minutes.

Members of executive board and SGA are required to go.

“All [SGA and executive board members] should want to participate and attend all Homecoming events,” senior class sponsor and counselor Jennifer Oristian said. “Why would other students want to attend if the leaders of their classes do not?”

Whereas homecoming is traditionally a welcoming back of alumni, the celebration has become a stress fest of dinner plans, dates, and dress options.

“It was extremely frustrating to coordinate plans to satisfy everyone,” said sophomore Braden Shugarman, who is managing a 36-person group. “People are being added and subtracted to the group daily and many people don’t vote on options and differ in opinions if they do. Collecting money is stressful because if people don’t pay, then my parents end up paying for them even if they don’t come, and that reflects onto me.”

Giavotto hopes that people will give homecoming another shot this year to see the hard work the entire CHS community has put into the event.

“The entire production entails weeks of preparation for decorating, float building, float performances, murals, shirts, and spirit week,” Giavotto said. “Every effort that the students and teachers put into this one week is just so immense. If everyone comes to the dance, there’s no way it won’t be fun.”

Freshman Sabrina Nusraty plans on attending.

“It’s my first major school event,” Nusraty said. “I’m most excited for taking pictures with my friends and spending time with them at the dance and dinner. There’s so much planning such as dress, hair, and transportation, but I know it’ll be fun in the end.”