Homecoming; a word we associate with football, dancing, school spirit, and an overall night of fun with friends. It is one of the most exciting traditional high school experiences, but one that many will not get to experience due to COVID restrictions. As a result, students have coined the term “FOCO”, a fake homecoming in which small groups of friends gather to celebrate together.

“Me and my friends are catering food to one of our houses, dressing up and taking pictures as if it were a real homecoming but without the dance,” said sophomore Alex White.

However, this modified celebration raises concerns about safety and how it could lead to a further spread of COVID-19.

“I plan to have fun while keeping it COVID friendly by wearing masks, but if I wanted to take it off, I would make sure I am outside and at a fairly good distance from everyone around me,” said junior Ryleigh Leonard.

While this is a great alternative, it does tend to leave a vast majority of students feeling left out, especially for those who live with individuals at a higher risk and aren’t allowed to go out and see friends. 

“It’s disappointing not being able to participate in FOCO because it feels like I’m missing out on an experience, but it’s honestly not the safest for me to participate in,” said junior Madison Rietheimer. “COVID cases are rising in our area and I can’t risk getting infected or infecting others.”

So at the end of the day, while having fun is encouraged, it’s important to think about the people around us and how our actions impact them.