Dances still on tap, for now

 The Milton High School’s Oct. 14 homecoming dance was cancelled due to COVID-19, but plans for a winter formal and prom are still ongoing.  

 The homecoming dance was cancelled by administration due to Pa. Governor Tom Wolf’s mandate changing the amount of people who could attend gatherings, said Student Government Advisor Ms. Kellie Brouse.  

“Homecoming was originally set for the week of Oct 9-13… but was changed because of Northumberland County moving to the ‘Substantial’ level [ of COVID-19 transmission]. At that point the dance was cancelled,” said Ms. Brouse. 

According to Ms. Brouse, before the mandate was issued, they had planned to hold the dance in the school parking lot with a tent so more people would be able to attend. They did not have a DJ reserved at that time, she added.  

“We felt it was important to have since the prom was canceled [last year],” she said. 

The money that is raised by the homecoming dance is usually used to help students, families, clubs and charitable organizations in the school and throughout Milton, said Ms. Brouse. With the cancellation of the dance, the club lost about $1500 in anticipated funds, she added.  

 According to National Honor Society (NHS) Advisor Ms. Angela Davis, NHS plans to have a Winter Formal on Feb. 14. They have secured a location for the dance, and they have reserved a DJ for the night, she said. 

“I don’t see how at this point we wouldn’t be able to have a typical dance,” said Ms. Davis. 

The winter formal is typically the main fundraiser for NHS, she said. If the dance were to be cancelled, NHS would have to come up with other ways to raise money, she added.   

In case the dance is cancelled, Ms. Davis said she had recently attended a virtual meeting discussing ideas for alternatives to the dance. She added she is looking forward to discussing these ideas with her team so students wouldn’t have to completely miss the event. 

 “I know how much the kids would like to have a dance at this point since they had to miss their last two major dances,” said Ms. Davis.  

Class Advisor Ms. Lauren Richie and retired Art Teacher Ms. Cindy Krebs were in charge of prom last year, said Ms. Richie. “We were all ready to go in March when we shut down,” she added.  

According to Ms. Davis, the Class of 2022, along with herself and Ms. Richie, are in charge of the 2021 Prom.   

Ms. Richie said they have a DJ booked and have bought and planned all the decorations. 

“We are still unsure of the location due to the pandemic,” said Ms. Richie. “The prom will most likely take place on school grounds or at the Milton Public Library, but neither of them are set in stone.” 

Ms. Richie said they have thought of alternatives for the prom if it were to be cancelled, but are keeping them private because they do not know what the future holds.  

“Mrs. Davis and I will do everything we can to make sure that prom is amazing IF we are able to have it,” she added.