Winter Banquet Concludes First Semester “Underneath the Tree”

If planning last year’s HS Banquet provided an opportunity to regain momentum, organizing this year’s Winter Banquet was a chance to explore new ideas. From the beginning of the year, Student Council members collected student opinions on our last banquet and collaborated with the PTO, the Communications Team, the HS administration, and the Crest 72 venue manager. Although we had many memorable discussions, one of our favorites was concerning the event’s theme.

Having our event pulled forward to early December gave us quite a few options. After all, there are so many thematic possibilities associated with the holiday season, from Christmas ballets to warm fireplaces. After careful consideration, we were set on “Underneath the Tree,” a theme perfectly encapsulating the joy of dancing together beneath a Christmas tree.

On Friday, December 8, we watched with bated breath as students walked into the newly decorated venue with dazzled expressions and apparel. Together, we delighted in a buffet specially crafted for the occasion, danced beneath hanging ivy, captured moments at mini photobooths, engaged in a lively Mafia dancing game, and participated in a raffle boasting prizes, including AirPod Pros, a Nintendo Switch, and various gift cards.

Despite the constraints of a tighter timeline, I’m proud to say that every aspect, from event planning to venue communication, was handled well by our STUCO members. 

However, the success of this event would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of certain individuals: the numerous student volunteers who dedicated their night to service (Gianna Park, Hank Young, John Kim, and Marissa Myong), the PTO (Mrs. Chung, Mrs. Yoo, and Mrs. Baik), the Communications Team (Mrs. Benedict and Mrs. Park), Mr. Charles Chan with his camera, and the HS administration (Mr. Marquis and Dr. Coleman). And, of course, the HS student body’s overwhelming presence and support helped make this event a reality.

We are glad that we could bring some pre-Christmas magic into our students’ lives on December 8. We’re eagerly anticipating returning with more events that continue to unify the HS Community in semester two!