An Evening of Snow

8 December 2011Annie L

The air is gradually becoming crisper and the bees have gone to hibernate, protected from the chilly weather that Winter brings. A morning shimmer grasps grass and the roof of the new Visual Arts Building glows with Christmas spirit. Summer dresses and skirts have disappeared, replaced by cozy sweaters and jeans. All this confirms that Winter has indeed fallen upon us.

Amidst all these adjustments to the plunging temperature, there has been enraptured chatter spreading across campus. The subject of the topic? None other than Snowball. During the past three months — and even to the day of — juniors have been asking seniors to the dance of the year. Snowball is a time-tested way of uniting the school.

Now, I think the juniors deserve a round of applause for their bravery. Asking a senior who is a year or two older than yourself can be nothing short of daunting. I remember the nervous laughter that jumped up my throat as I discussed with my friends how we would ask a senior boy to Snowball. That being said, it sure did come as a relief to hear the promise of a ‘Yes’. I’m sure that many can agree.

Following finding a date (or the group of people you will attend Snowball with) there is always the option of getting to know them prior to the evening. Trips to Rusty’s (the local cafe) are almost inevitable as are the basic conversation starters in order to break the ice. All of this results in the certainty that the evening of Snowball will run smoothly.

Then comes the dress search and — you mustn’t forget — the heels to match. The boys polish their shoes and find blazers and ties that complement their date’s attire. Boxes of chocolates are swept off the store shelves while bouquets of flowers and corsages are pre-ordered. There is an exhilarating escalation of excitement that rises as the day approaches, until, at last, it arrives.

By 6 o’clock suitors are arriving at all four of the girls’ houses with their gifts in hand. The house parents and duty staff take the form of the messengers, going back and forth, up and down the stairs, announcing whose dates have arrived. Girls cheer and photos are posed for and taken; Alex, Allard, Hope and Mackenzie were alive as happiness shook their warm walls.

Crooks Hall stood in brilliance as a lineup grew quickly outside. Professional photos were offered upon entrance, but some bee-lined it to the dining section. Couples and/or friends posed standing up or sat in Santa’s sleigh. Though the lines were long, it was worth the wait.

Upon entering the building, the room seemed to unravel. Simply imagine a romanticized version of the cafeteria. It was unrecognizable. But where to begin? From the ceiling hung paper snowflakes to emphasize the theme and plants were placed on all sides of the spacious room with lights embracing them. The centerpieces were spectacular and encompassed candles to soften the mood while bottles of sparkling apple juice were set on the tables.
 
People oohed and aahed over the decorations, and the positive energy was something one could glide on for the rest of the night. This year’s grad council has truly outdone themselves. Throughout the following week I’m certain people will still be able to picture the calm glow of the cafeteria and the atmosphere that came with it.

Dinner was served at six thirty and tables, arranged with four couples each, were summoned by their assigned table number. The grad council members weren’t the sole contributors to such a wonderful evening, for the chefs and cafeteria staff did an incredible job as well. From Caesar salad to beef or chicken — the menu was remarkable. It had me going back for more! Discussions among the tables were dynamic, with jokes, amiable debates and anecdotes.

By seven forty-five the dance was announced and the photo area was reopened. Music and lights gave life to the McNeil Center and the crowd migrated from the dining hall instantly. DJs Jonathan.C.H and Scotty.P played incredible beats for the remainder of the night. The evening ended in success as the students returned to their houses.

Thank you to Mr. Flynn for allowing us to use Crooks Hall for this festive event, the cafeteria staff for the memorable dinner, Maintenance for setting up the McNeil Center and the staff that helped with serving food during the dinner including Donna Decker, Andrea Felix, Kate Coull, Sue Whitney & Ashlee Niblett.

A HUGE thank you to the parents who helped for all their hard work including Lynn Purdey, Ruth & Chris Rumball, Lynn & Paul Courville, Catharine O’Brien-Bell, Marci McLean, Lily Henderson, Maree & Doug Leighton & Della Lawrence.
 
Heavy praise also goes out to our Grad Council and Mrs. Martin — thank you for all your hard work: it gave us a night to remember, which we will be living off during the upcoming exams.

Annie L