On December 9 from 2:45 to 4:30, Social Studies Teacher Mrs. Christina Wiese and A.S.B. Adviser Mr. Johan Arana hosted the winter dance at MacArthur. The purpose of the dance was a fundraiser for CJIF and Explorers Club. Students were invited to play games, listen to music, take pictures at the photo booth, and have fun. 

Wiese, who helped put the dance together said, “The hardest part was coming up with ideas and finding volunteers but after finding some Avid helpers everything else was fine.” Wiese is the adviser for the Explorers Club and also teaches seventh-grade social studies  and sixth-grade AVID. 

The games were generally holiday or winter themed such as pin the heart on grinch, ring toss, knocking cans down, bean bag toss, Connect Four, etc. Also, food, music, and face painting were offered.

Eighth-grader Alona P. said, ”I guess it’s not a game, but the face paint booth was the best.” 

The cost for dance tickets was $5 Monday through Thursday and $7 on Friday, the day of the dance. Phones though were prohibited from being used during the dance, as usual. Students from the California Junior Scholarship Federation, C.J.S.F., also participated by manning booths at the dance. 

Eighth-grader Ali C., a member of C.J.S.F., who worked the winter face painting booth said “I think the dance went well. There were a lot more people there than I thought would be.” 

The funds they got went to the Explorers Club and C.J.S.F., who used the money for parties, field trips, and games.  The Explorers club used their fundraising for t-shirts and sweatshirts for their trip to Boston and New York. According to Arana, the dance made over $1,000, and about 250 students attended. 

Alona said, “Honestly, yes, the dance was worth it, but I just wish there was a broader variety of games.” 

Some dances to look forward to now are the Friendship dance and the End-of-the-Year dance. All of these dances require a 2.0 or more grade point average to attend or an eligibility card.