On Friday, December 11, Jesuit, Ursuline, and Notre Dame students all entered Jesuit’s transformed Christmas wonderland. Greeted with snowflakes, Christmas lights, and a smoking Polar Express, the attendees were stunned by the work that went into making this event a reality. They followed the train tracks to the cafeteria, where D.J. Dottie created a lively dancing atmosphere.
Weeks prior to the dance, Interact’s junior club members began preparations by making snowflakes and paper trains. Under the guidance of the club’s moderators, Mrs. Gerber and Ms. Meissner, the students moved on to constructing the Polar Express and tree decorations the week of the dance. With the eighth annual Notre Dame Christmas Dance speedily approaching, Interact was itching to see their hard work in action.
The seniors from the Notre Dame service site were also excited for one of the most anticipated events of the year. Michael Bowen, a senior who goes to Notre Dame on Wednesdays, said that the dance “added a whole new level of excitement and joy” that he had yet to see from the students this year.
As everything came together, it was apparent that the work put into the dance by Interact and organizer Coach Leal paid off. From the hallway decorated with snowflakes to the train, acting as a photo booth, the décor was a hit. With carnations handed out at the door and D.J. Dottie setting the dance floor on fire, differences melted away and everyone had fun. Interact president Abbas Hussain ’17 thought that “It made all of the work worth it just to see the smiles on their faces.” Mr. Perry similarly noted that his favorite aspect of the event was seeing “the new friendships that were made and the old friendships that were rediscovered,” all while “celebrating the Christmas season.”
