What was once known as Turnabout has now evolved into the Winter Dance—an event similar to Homecoming, offering students an opportunity to spend a night with friends, enjoy music, and capture memorable photos. However, despite its similarities to Homecoming in terms of entertainment, the Winter Dance has consistently seen a significant contrast in attendance. Concerns regarding low attendance were raised early in the planning process, even before winter break. The possibility of cancellation loomed over the student council’s efforts after weeks of preparation. In the end, more than 200 tickets were sold—a respectable number but significantly lower than Homecoming’s ticket sales. Three student council members involved in planning the event shared that while organizing the dance was an enjoyable experience, the fear of cancellation due to low attendance dampened their enthusiasm. Given this year’s turnout, the question remains: Will the event be held again next year?

This year, the dance was designed to be a more relaxed and casual event while still maintaining traditional elements such as a DJ and music. However, due to its lack of popularity, alternative formats are now being considered. One student council officer mentioned discussions about transforming the event into something more “casual and activity-based,” moving beyond dancing as the primary entertainment. Potential ideas include making it a general social gathering or introducing a competitive event similar to Mr. Warren. Students interested in shaping the future of the event are encouraged to share their suggestions with the student council or reach out to Sarah Stepek, Warren’s activity director.

Student council has a strong track record of promoting major events like Homecoming and Mr. Warren. Despite visually appealing flyers and posters, the Winter Dance has struggled to garner the same level of attention. To boost attendance in the future, additional school-wide activities could be incorporated, such as increased promotion at sporting events, larger raffles or competitions, and incentives tied to spirit days to encourage greater student participation.

What about students though? Were they just oblivious or uninterested in the event? Majority of students decided not to go, and the ones that attended were mainly freshman curious about the event, sophomores going for the first time oblivious to it freshman year, some outlier juniors, and seniors wanting to make the most of their year one last time. The ones that never attended told me that they never went because of its attendance and that they already have tournaments, don’t want to put the effort in, or were very oblivious to what was happening in the school community despite the advertising done; this means that students merely don’t have as much interest in the event like others. The reason of course being personalized to each person. Not everyone feels like partying, and anyways, who can help it?

So, what does the future hold for Turnabout? Has it officially transitioned into the Winter Dance, or will it become something even more casual? Could attendance improve next year following this year’s near-cancellation? While seniors will not be around to see the outcome, the rest of the student body will have to wait and see what changes, if any, take place in the coming year.