On Friday, Sep. 27, Archie Williams hosted its annual Homecoming Dance. In the spirit of the dance’s theme, Mamma Mia, the Associated Student Body (ASB) assigned each grade a different color to wear, with freshmen in green, sophomores in blue, juniors in white, and seniors in pink. Students danced in the school’s gym from 7 to 10 p.m., while a DJ performed for the audience.
The small gym served as an activity and snack area, while the main gym had music and a dance floor. The small gym activities included foosball, air hockey, and a photo booth, as well as the entrance to two small outdoor areas for students to hydrate and take a break from the dance.
Freshman Winston Gauna attended his first Homecoming Dance this year.
“It started off slow but the dance is picking up, it’s getting a lot better,” Winston said. “This is another level [from middle school dances].”
Winston appreciated the designated outdoor area, as it provided an area to rest and get a drink of water.
“[The gym] is quite hot though, so it was nice to have the outdoor areas,” Winston said.
To ensure attendee safety, security briefly searched students upon entering the gym, and randomly administered breathalyzers. In addition to supervision from administrators, police officers, private security, and staff chaperones, trained “Safe Leaders” from Peer Resource (PR), and ASB members were available to assist any student in distress. Safe Leaders wore glowing heart necklaces, making them easily identifiable for anyone in an uncomfortable situation.
Archie Williams senior and PR member Arlo Maury attended Homecoming as a Safe Leader.
“I prepared for Homecoming by getting educated on what it means to be in Peer Resource, and being ready to help people if they need it,” Arlo said. “[As a Safe Leader], I was trained by Mrs. Brown and staff in the Wellness Center through interactive slideshows and demonstrations.”
In preparation for Homecoming, junior and ASB member Adria Losa highlighted the extensive safety protocols implemented by ASB to ensure an enjoyable experience for all attendees.
“For Homecoming, ASB went over a lot of safety measures,” Adria said. “We did Safe Leader training to make sure everyone was prepared to help people in need. We went over a lot of rules and rubrics to make sure we could help students at the dance.”
Adria noticed a difference in attendance in comparison to last year’s Homecoming Dance.
“This year I feel like less people attended the dance. Last year I had more fun because a lot more people were here, but this year’s is good because it has a lot more safety precautions,” Adria said.
At approximately 9:10 p.m., a student experienced a medical emergency during Homecoming. Led by Safe Leaders and staff, attendees evacuated for the student to receive medical support from the Ross Valley Fire Department. While some students left prematurely, others continued to dance until the event closed at 10 p.m. once invited back into the gym.
Homecoming kicked off a series of upcoming school events and wrapped up the festivities of spirit week. Marking the first official school dance for new students Archie Williams looks forward to their next dance, Winter Formal.
