My friends and I started thinking about winter formal at the start of November, only a little more than a month after Homecoming; many of us started looking for dresses in October. Earlier in the semester, we had enjoyed both the back-to school and Homecoming dances. As sophomores, we have had the chance to attend three dances during first semester. 

Not so with second semester, which has two proms but no school-wide dances. Due to the lack of participation in previous all-grade dances such as the Spring Fling and end-of-the-year dance, the school offers just junior and senior prom as the only second-semester dances.

Underclassmen rarely attend either one. That means that for half the student population, there is nearly a seven-month stretch without any school dance.  

Another option would be to have another dance only for underclassmen, but that might be more expensive for ASB. 

So what’s the best solution? Push winter formal from early December to January. Other schools such as Lynbrook have their formal in the middle of January. Not only would this be less stressful for the dance commission, but it would also spread out dances throughout the school year instead of having all three all-grade dances in the first semester. 

For dance commission especially, they start planning the back to school dance over the summer. Right after school starts, they start Homecoming plans. Immediately after, they start winter formal preparations.

Especially since many students are getting used to the new school year and their harder classes in the first semester, it can be stressful not only for the members of dance commission in planning for these dances but also for students in making plans to attend the events. 

Having formal in December adds to the burden of worry and anxiety put on students as finals and semester grades are coming up. For seniors, many college applications are also due in early January. The added stress of planning what to wear, dates and pre-formal parties would only make students less inclined to go; thus moving it could even stand to increase ticket sales. 

In short, moving winter formal to January would be more convenient for everyone and would catapult second semester to a strong start.