According to the FHC student body, the general consensus regarding the Senior Dinner Dance on Nov. 2 is an overwhelming feeling of hesitation. Many seniors are confused and unaware of what occurs at the annual event, partly because only one class attends at a time and partly because it’s not school-sponsored.
“Basically, people get dressed up [in a] semi-formal [fashion],” senior advisor Kristin O’Brien said. “It’s not like a prom, but a lot of the [boys] wear ties, or at least a dress shirt, and girls most of the time wear black dresses and whatnot. Then you have dinner, and there’s a DJ, and because this is not a school-sponsored event, the DJ can have more flexibility with what kind of music plays.”
O’Brien went on to say that the seniors usually receive a little gift from the Senior All Night Party Committee. One year, she recalled, they had brought in Crumbl Cookie for everyone. Another, there was a raffle.
“It’s basically a three-hour dinner and dance, and a fun night for the seniors,” O’Brien said.
The Dinner Dance is a lot less formal than the other school-wide dances that FHC has to offer, such as Homecoming, Winterfest, and Prom for the upperclassmen. Rather than asking another person to the dance as a couple, it’s more of having the entire senior class come together and celebrate their last school year together.
According to Principal Jonathan Haga, the Senior All Night Party Committee plans something new every year for the seniors, making it a night to remember. Senior class president Clare Knoester believes that all seniors should attend the dance, as it is essential for the class to grow throughout their last year of high school together.
“A simple activity like dancing and hanging out with friends at dinner is a good way to contribute to that,” Clare said. “Class activities really do bring everyone together. It’s something that we haven’t ever done before, and I would say it’s different from all the other dances, like homecoming or winterfest, because it’s specifically [the senior] class, and not any others. So it’s nice to talk to new people or sit at a table with somebody different.”
Still, many seniors are questioning whether they will attend. Haga believes that every student should have the opportunity to go to the dance, regardless of their circumstances.
“I would think about why you’re not going,” Haga said. “If it’s a monetary issue, come talk to us. We [and the Senior All Night Party Committee] are more than willing to help you. [We want to] make sure that every student gets to participate in [the dance].”
FHC alumna Rowan Szpieg was one of the many Class of 2025 seniors who attended the event this past year; unlike many others who did not attend, Rowan did not regret her decision.
“So many people left the venue just as they began the actual dance portion of the night,” Rowan said, “[so] I feel they really missed out on the best part. I’m sure the parties they were going to after seemed like more fun, but surprisingly, it meant a lot to me to actually talk with some people that I’d never really interacted with before.”
From Rowan’s experience, the Senior Dinner Dance did alter her class chemistry. Even a simple Sunday night spent hanging out with nearly her entire grade seemed to unite groups that initially appeared separated in the school context.
“Since it was only our grade, I do feel there was an extra opportunity to bond with each other,” Rowan said. “Right before they served dinner, they had a slideshow of everyone’s baby pictures. It was such a simple activity, but to see everyone’s collective reactions to the photos was really special. Many people left the dance quite early, so those of us [who] stayed later had a chance to almost get to know each other beyond surface-level discussions in class.”
The Class of 2026 is beginning to count down the days until graduation. What used to seem years away is now a mere seven months into the future—that’s seven months to create as many memories as possible. We only get one chance at senior year, and the Senior Dinner Dance is a great opportunity to make it unforgettable.
“As I mentioned at the senior retreat,” Haga said, “if you had asked me five years ago when you guys were in eighth grade if many of you would be as close as you are [now, I don’t know] if this would be the case. I hope you guys continue to make memories together. I hope you guys continue to bond, and most importantly, I hope you guys have some fun, because you deserve it.”
