Northwood High School held its first-ever Sadie Hawkins dance on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. Senior Class President, Callan Perchinsky, took on the role of planning the winter dance a few months in advance. Perchinksy had the idea of making the Northwood winter dance more appealing to students because, in the past few years, it suffered from lower turnout. Organizers wanted to make the winter dance something that students could look forward to and enjoy. Athletics Director, Cameron Vernon, Perchinsky, and Senior President of Class Involvement, Caroline Porter, worked together to make this dance exciting for students.
In the beginning stages of planning, organizers had to find a new venue, a DJ, security, chaperones, and other details that may get overlooked.
“We got donations from local Pittsboro companies and worked with them to try and get the venue paid for,” Perchinsky said.
The hardest part of planning for the group was getting vendors and making sure their donations were in on time. Getting students to go was the second hardest part of planning. Student Council had to figure out a way to make this dance appealing to students and encourage them to go; they used advertising methods like posting flyers online on all of the Northwood social media, as well as hanging flyers around the school. Due to the great planning and determination of the Student Council, it was a success with a solid turnout of about 200 students.
Perchinksky was able to get all the decorations up on time, as well as get the food and drinks ready with the help of others. She feels that having the dance at Chatham Mills helped them have a better turnout. Many of the students had a good time and enjoyed the dance, with many staying until the conclusion of the dance, hanging out with their friends, and enjoying refreshments.
Senior AnnaClara Kappelman also had a great time with her friends and said she would go again. She enjoyed the music and positive atmosphere. Perchinksy and other students feel there were a few things that could be improved for next year.
“It felt too confined in one area, and more decorations would’ve been nice,” Senior Maddie Stong said.
The Junior Student Council is already thinking of ways to keep the number of students attending at a steady increase.
“If we have it at Chatham Mills in the future years, the numbers will definitely rise,” Perchinsky said.
