For some, it was a long-awaited revival of school spirit; for others, it was a six-year wait for a letdown. As the lights came up on the first winter formal since 2020, one question remained: was it worth the effort?
“I like that it was funding Prom. If I were going to Prom, I would want [it to be funded well, and] nice and fancy,” freshman Nina Pusateri said.
While other students enjoyed another opportunity with a classic high school experience.
“It was fun, because we [underclassmen] only get one unless you’re a junior or senior. So it was nice to have something else, as most other schools do,” sophomore Amelia Garavaglia said.
Students like Garavaglia compared the winter dance to the homecoming dance, noting a difference in theme quality.
Student attendance was significantly less than that of HOCO and Prom, with only 219 tickets sold, and 205 students attending-around 26% of the school’s population.
“[There was] a lot less hype and shared knowledge that something was happening,” Garavaglia said.
The dance was primarily advertised through the Greyhound News Network, word of mouth, and posters around the school.
“We did a large Instagram marketing campaign, with posts promoting the winter spirit week, the pep rally, and the dance,” junior Aspen Myers said.
While the dance sales garnered over $3000, students wonder whether other fundraising efforts would have been more beneficial.
“I love getting dressed up with my friends and dancing, but there are probably better fundraiser options. Something that everyone would enjoy-[like] a bake sale or something, versus just some people who would only really be there for like 30 minutes,” Pusateri said
Pusateri also noticed the difference in catering compared to HOCO.
“There wasn’t any food or beverage at this one. Last time [at HOCO] there was some lemonade, and a cookie or two,” Pusateri said
Pusateri also believed that the dance not being held in the gym changed the experience.
“It felt a little bit awkward to be dancing in the cafeteria versus the gym. I liked the lighting, but it felt like we were just standing in the cafeteria in our dresses,” Pusateri said.
Garavaglia viewed the location change in a more favorable light.
“I think the bigger space was better for airflow, and it wasn’t as hot as fast,” Garavaglia said.
The decision on whether the Winter dance will become an annual event remains pending and will depend on student interest.
“We had a huge success, especially from hearing about it from other student leaders who have tried to accomplish things like this. It typically is canceled because there aren’t enough sign-ups. However, this one was very successful,” Myers said.
