Unexpectedly the school had announced that there is going to be a school dance on August 6th – a returning to school celebration – to rebound from the lack of school spirit last year. STUGO and their advisor Lerina Johnosn have been advertising a glow theme school dance, the first of the year and since quarantine. Different from other school dances, this one is at a low cost, casual dress, and only Perry enrolled students can attend – no visitor passes. 

Many students have conflicting views on the new event: with freshmen and sophomores, they have no other dance to compare it to, juniors were limited to a few formals their freshman year, and seniors are in dire need for a “regular” school dance.

COVID has been fluctuating in numbers, making the planning for the back to school event difficult. STUGO is encouraging all students to come as they do not know when they can plan the next dance. “Everything is up in the air, even the Glow Dance. Yes, we have been talking about it but nothing is final until the day it happens.” Johnson stated.

Along with the confusing COVID-19 restrictions and delays, STUGO put in countless hours in to put together a sudden event for the school-spirit hungry students. “Bring all your friends! We want people to come. We spent so much time on making this good for the students.” STUGO member Claira Harris said.

Compared to Homecoming or Prom, the Back to School Dance does not look appealing to students like freshman Ethan Williams. To him “the five dollars is not worth it; if it was a major dance I would probably go but I rather hang out with my friends at my house.” Williams claimed. 

For sophomore Jake Andreason, he has a different perspective from Andreason, the dance is going to be his first school sanctioned dance as an upperclassman. “I’m going it would be fun to go with a bunch of friends; I think it’s worth it to pay five dollars for this dance, who knows when our next one is?” Andreason stated.

Like Andreason, Johnson is worried that this will be the last dance for the year. “I encourage everyone to come.” To minimize contact, the school has been indecisive with the setting for the dance. The school sent out a notice to Johnson that the dance must be considerate of COVID-19 restrictions and that confined spaces – the gym – might not be the most wise decision. So “we invited the D.J. to come and scope out the areas around us to see the best position for the dance.” Johnson Said.

The back to school dance is a way for STUGO to normalize this school year and to excite students for the school year. Most students have yet to experience a true school dance; students are either eager to attend or dreading the day the dance comes.