A core part of high school is the magical school dances. Having an evening where you can dress up with friends and enjoy each other’s company is very special. Once students arrive they are surrounded by a thoughtful theme and decorations that glimmer in the atmosphere, but who’s to thank for that? It’s your very own student council.
The Maryvale Student Council consists of five stellar students: Angela Balto, president; Hope Simms, vice president; Gwen Sachetti, secretary; Chloe Thomas, treasurer; and Molly Stahovec, the council’s public relations officer.
When asked how the student council decides what theme to use from student suggestions, Stahovec confidently answered, saying, “Obviously, on the student council we want to represent the student body as well as we can and it is impossible to make everyone happy. People are always going to complain so that’s what makes this so difficult. So the easiest way to go about deciding is to send out a form and let the students vote.”
The student council distributes a survey for the entire school to vote on. No matter the outcome, they work to make it appealing for grades ranging from 9th through 12th. Maryvale’s 2026 spring dance theme is “California Girls.” This year the student council encountered difficulties with the theme regarding dress attire for the dance.
The challenge required grace, thoughtfulness, and flexibility from the council. Stahovec explained how they value and honor Maryvale’s Catholic school values. They want everyone to feel confident in their outfits but also represent the school – and themselves – well.
The spring dance is semi-formal, meaning students can wear dazzling dresses and accessorize however their hearts desire. The inspiration is a fun, sparkly, and shiny dress. You can wear a plain one if you want, but it’s supposed to be colorful and more extravagant than homecoming.
Although there are many fun things to look forward to for dances, the student council has many behind-the-scenes responsibilities that average dance attendees don’t have. The student council works together to sign people in, buy decorations, plan the dance, decorate the gym, and clean up the gym after the dance. They are also working to make the gym have a lighter ambiance for this dance instead of pitch black darkness like other dances.
With March 13th quickly approaching, students are excitedly anticipating a memorable evening. While the outfits, music, and fun get all the attention, we forget who we should truly be thanking: the student council and Maryvale staff. Thanks to the efforts of so many, we Maryvale students can have a joyful,special night with one another. So Maryvale, who’s excited to be California girls for the night?
