“Shell we dance?”

After being absent from the school calendar last year, the Maclay Sadie Hawkins dance is back and making a big splash. On Feb. 12, upper school students will be able to enjoy the “Sadies By the Sea” event in the Cartee Gym from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Those planning to attend this newly returned annual dance will need to purchase a ticket online for $16 or pay $20 at the door upon arrival. Students accompanied by friends from different schools must also turn in a guest form. 

“I think dances in general are just so… essential for a high school experience, not only because you get to spend time with friends, but if there’s people from different schools you can meet new people, as well as get to know your fellow classmates who maybe you haven’t met before because maybe you don’t have a class with them,” senior and Key Club Officer Taylor Hamilton said. 

When planning for Sadies, Maclay’s community service club, Key Club, faced many decisions. With Omicron still raging across the nation, members had to debate what safety precautions should be taken, lest the Sadie Hawkins dance be postponed another year. Eventually, the club decided to let students attend without showing proof of a vaccination or a negative test. Instead, students will be trusted not to go to the dance if they feel ill.  

“I hope [students] get to have fun [and] get to do traditions they haven’t gotten to enjoy,” Key Club Sponsor and Spanish teacher Caroline Scheer said. “So many people have missed those things, not getting to have certain milestone occasions.” 

Since Maclay’s daddy-daughter dance will be held in the Cartee gym the night before, and its theme will be “Under the Sea,” Key Club decided to piggyback off of that event and utilize the same theme as well as decorations. Since many students go to a Sadies dinner beforehand, food and drink at the dance will be limited to mints and water bottles. A sea-themed photo booth and decorative leis will also be accessible for students. 

“It’s a cool feeling to organize a dance that people really enjoy,” Key Club President Jakob Birken said. “Key Club also organized the homecoming dance this year as well, and students seemed to be very pleased with the DJ and decorations, so I’m hoping we can do the same again for Sadies.” 

To find more information about the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance, visit www.maclay.org/Sadies2022