for SL
Following a two-year hiatus, West’s Midwinter dance returned Saturday, February 11th at West High School.
Although the 2021-22 school year saw the return of an in-person Homecoming dance and Prom, the Midwinter dance initially remained a relic of pre-pandemic high school. Feeling apprehensive, as students had only been in the building for five months after a year and a half of virtual learning, West administrative staff canceled the dance in 2022, citing concerns over an increased risk of COVID-19. This announcement was met with frustration from many West students, however, as they grappled with the loss of the “normal” high school experiences seemingly promised by the return to in-person schooling.
As a result, many West students made their voices heard in advocating for a 2023 Midwinter dance, even making suggestions before the school year began. Despite the overwhelming support from the student body, resurrecting the dance was not necessarily an easy task. The loss of institutional knowledge and memory meant there was relatively little information students and staff could rely on when understanding how the dance had previously run. Additionally, the West administrative staff was not immune to the high, COVID-fueled turnover rate felt by professions across the country; this year alone, West gained a new principal, assistant principal, head secretary, and dean of students. This, coupled with the lack of collective memory, made the task feel more like starting from scratch than continuing a years-long tradition. The transition did allow for the introduction of new ideas, however. For example, instead of having a Midwinter spirit week like in years past, this year, the West Black Student Union will be hosting a school-wide spirit week during the week of February 20th to celebrate Black History Month.
While it was not possible to bring back every typical element associated with the dance, most notably the Midwinter Aud, many aspects of the week were familiar to students. This included the addition of Valentine’s-themed decorations to the Ash entrance and the timeless institution of Singing Valentines.
Following the dance, West students summed up the experience in three words: “small-scale, chill, and mid.” Selling fewer tickets than the 2022 Homecoming dance, the Midwinter dance felt much less crowded to attendees and eased the issues of long lines and limited supplies that plagued dances in the past. Additionally, many students felt less social pressure to build up the night which relieved some of the stress typically associated with nicer events and formals. While West students were ultimately excited to see the dance return, many felt that it could not shake all of the common annoyances associated with school events, including the omission of a coat check and a DJ who did not always follow student song requests. Nonetheless, students and staff alike felt the dance signified an important step towards the return of many of the pre-pandemic experiences offered at West and added some much-needed light to the otherwise cold and gray month.
Following a two-year hiatus, West’s Midwinter dance returned Saturday, February 11th at West High School.
Although the 2021-22 school year saw the return of an in-person Homecoming dance and Prom, the Midwinter dance initially remained a relic of pre-pandemic high school. Feeling apprehensive, as students had only been in the building for five months after a year and a half of virtual learning, West administrative staff canceled the dance in 2022, citing concerns over an increased risk of COVID-19. This announcement was met with frustration from many West students, however, as they grappled with the loss of the “normal” high school experiences seemingly promised by the return to in-person schooling.
As a result, many West students made their voices heard in advocating for a 2023 Midwinter dance, even making suggestions before the school year began. Despite the overwhelming support from the student body, resurrecting the dance was not necessarily an easy task. The loss of institutional knowledge and memory meant there was relatively little information students and staff could rely on when understanding how the dance had previously run. Additionally, the West administrative staff was not immune to the high, COVID-fueled turnover rate felt by professions across the country; this year alone, West gained a new principal, assistant principal, head secretary, and dean of students. This, coupled with the lack of collective memory, made the task feel more like starting from scratch than continuing a years-long tradition. The transition did allow for the introduction of new ideas, however. For example, instead of having a Midwinter spirit week like in years past, this year, the West Black Student Union will be hosting a school-wide spirit week during the week of February 20th to celebrate Black History Month.
While it was not possible to bring back every typical element associated with the dance, most notably the Midwinter Aud, many aspects of the week were familiar to students. This included the addition of Valentine’s-themed decorations to the Ash entrance and the timeless institution of Singing Valentines.
Following the dance, West students summed up the experience in three words: “small-scale, chill, and mid.” Selling fewer tickets than the 2022 Homecoming dance, the Midwinter dance felt much less crowded to attendees and eased the issues of long lines and limited supplies that plagued dances in the past. Additionally, many students felt less social pressure to build up the night which relieved some of the stress typically associated with nicer events and formals. While West students were ultimately excited to see the dance return, many felt that it could not shake all of the common annoyances associated with school events, including the omission of a coat check and a DJ who did not always follow student song requests. Nonetheless, students and staff alike felt the dance signified an important step towards the return of many of the pre-pandemic experiences offered at West and added some much-needed light to the otherwise cold and gray month.