Throughout the 180-day school year, with about half of them being in winter, there can be very little to look forward to during the cold, wet months. With the recent addition of the winter dance, Pattonville is creating more opportunities to motivate students during winter.

The rumors about whether or not a winter dance will be occurring have now been confirmed by both Bob Hebrank, Athletic and Activities director at Pattonville High School, and Student Council (STUCO). According to Nathan Samples, STUCO President, the dance will be held on February 21st in either the cafeteria, gym, or multi-purpose room, all dependent upon the amount of students who buy tickets. This will be the same day as the popular all male talent show in which each club and sport chooses a junior or senior representative to compete, Mr. PHS. Mr. PHS will begin an hour earlier and the dance will start as soon as Mr. PHS finishes. The winter dance will last from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

According to Samples, STUCO has not yet decided on a theme, but want it to be something that can be built on each year and continue to be based around the same idea. For example, a decades theme–maybe the first year everyone would dress up like the 1950s and then the following year would be the 1960s. The plan is to have a Sadie Hawkins dance, which is where the girls ask the boys to go with them. This would be in direct relation to the idea of Mr. PHS.

Samples predicts that there will be a boost in attendance at Mr. PHS from the dance because students will just attend Mr. PHS and then go straight over to the dance. Especially since the dance will be informal, unlike homecoming or prom.

A part of the reason for Mr. PHS and the winter dance taking place on the same date is because of the great challenge it is to find a day where there are no games, activities, or meetings.

As of right now, there is no official attire of for the dance. Hebrank assures that it will be causal. The goal is to keep the dance as economical as possible and putting in a causal dress code will help.

Ticket prices have not yet been set. STUCO and Hebrank are currently working together to set the price. So far, it looks like the price will be $5 for a dance ticket, but if tickets are bought for both the dance and Mr. PHS there will be a reduced rate.

STUCO approached Hebrank and other administrators asking if a winter dance would be possible. About four years ago, there was a dance that was also informal and was unique due to its dark and illuminating strobe lights called Glow Dance, but was cancelled after a few years due to inappropriate dancing. STUCO members wanted to replace that. The administrators were open to the idea, but wanted the dance to not take too much planning or be too costly.

“With homecoming in the fall we honor the girls, with the Homecoming Queen,” Hebrank said. “So we wanted to tie it in where it had something to do with honoring the boys.” Hebrank said.

The dance is directed towards all students, not just underclassmen, so there can be two all-school dances. Samples said, “It’s another time to go have a good time with your entire class and school.”

StuCo has also decided that all the proceeds from the dance will go to buying gifts for a family in need or a charity of choice.

To learn more about the winter dance and get updates, continue to check in here and follow us at @phsTODAY.