On February 21st, ERHS’ annual Winter Formal dance took place in the North Gym, hosted by ASB (Associated Student Body). The vibrant Alice in Wonderland themed event lasted from 6 to 10 PM. The energy at the dance was vibrant, as exclaims of joy from people having fun radiated throughout the gym, especially when many student-favorite songs made people dance. FCO (Freshman Class Officers) and Orchestra helped fundraise for their specific groups by setting up concession stands. The DJ played many songs that Eagles know and love, and the decorations that surrounded the gym’s interior and exterior helped shape the theme of the dance in a very colorful way. Now, I will share a summary on what the event was like and how it went.

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All photos taken by Gavin Francisco

Before you enter through the “rabbit hole” leading to the North Gym, you are immediately greeted by an arrow sign pointing to the “ground”, the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit. As you proceed, there are numerous decorations hanging on a very well created roof, such as cards from a playing deck, teacups, and clocks. Prior to arriving at the entrance, both the floor and the roof turn into the famous checkerboard pattern. After walking through the “rabbit hole”, you are in the gym. 

More fascinating decorations were showcased in the gym, such as additional rabbits, multiple books, and colorful stringed lights hanging across the walls. If you wanted to capture some memories, the friendly girls at the photo booth were there to help you out. You could also choose from many signs to hold when taking your photo. Right next to the photo booth were the doors to the concession stands, with proceeds going to FCO and Mrs. Silverman’s Orchestra group. In addition, other wonderful decorations were displayed outside, such as a nice fabric representation of a pond and a standee of characters such as Alice and the Mad Hatter having a tea party.

Throughout the event, multiple groups of friends and couples showed up to participate in the fun. There were also a few beach balls that students got to play with, and many played volleyball while they weren’t dancing. During my free time, my friends and I played catch and soccer using these beach balls. Other people danced to songs that the fabulous DJ played for us, such as “Not Like Us”, “Espresso”, “Blank Space”, and the famous “Macarena”. I had such a great time that even while taking the pictures for this article, I took part dancing along to “The Hustle” midway through the event. Personally, my favorite song they played at the event was “As It Was” by Harry Styles, as it reminds me of the classic track “Take On Me” from Norwegian band a-ha. Being an 80s’ music lover, I wish there could’ve been more songs from that decade as the vast majority of the music played throughout the dance were contemporary pop songs. 

I also got to chat with some of the guests at the event. Two ASB students, Bailey Onza and Winnata Kijcharoen, spoke with me while helping out the FCO with their booth. Both stated how setting up and planning for the dance was very fun and that everyone worked together. They were thrilled that people showed up, although the girls thought there could’ve potentially been a higher number of students at the dance. ASB was able to finish setting up for the event earlier than expected, and it was very relaxing for them. While they wish that more people could’ve attended, Winnata quotes “quality over quantity”, implying that their efforts were well-perceived and that the quality of the event itself was more important than the amount of students who came to it.

Overall, the 2026 ERHS Winter Formal was a success. The weather was perfect, the energy couldn’t have been better, and the amount of friendly faces at the event ensured that you had a great time. One thing to note is that this year, the dance was open to all levels, as in 2025 only students in grades 7 through 9 could attend. However, I can’t conclude this article without giving massive praise and thanks to ASB. If it wasn’t for the amazing student leaders, this event wouldn’t have even taken place. They made sure that everything was top-notch, from the planning to the theme reveal and the decorations. I’m sure there was also a lot of extra behind-the-scenes work that they did too. Seriously, just looking at the interior of the “rabbit hole” makes you wonder how they were able to pull this off. Normally, you don’t judge a book by its cover, but immediately seeing the entrance and the writing on the book made me know for sure that ASB had given the students a night to remember. I still recall those very detailed animals at the front. I wonder how long it took to create every animal and place them alongside the decorations. Great job ASB and everyone else who took part in this event!