by Isaac Mays, Sports Editor

Last Friday, the St. John Bosco Brave and St. Joseph’s Jester communities took a blast to the past with 2000s inspired music, clothes and Polaroids. The welcome dance’s success shows promise for what the rest of the school year has in store.

Last week’s Y2K Welcome Dance was the first of many for incoming and transfer students. With over 300 freshmen combined between the Bosco and Joseph’s classes, the dance welcomed over 700 students in attendance from not just the Brave and Jester communities, but also students from neighboring Catholic schools.

Hosted in the Bosco gymnasium, the Thunderdome, the dance brought the theme back to the year 2000 with all Y2K themed décor. The throwback featured many aspects unfamiliar to the typical lives of teens growing up after the early 2000s. Associated Student Body (ASB) and Bosco’s Dance Committee, who spearheaded the planning of the event, implemented a Polaroid camera station for patrons of the dance to attend and get photos on the spot in Y2K style.

The theme offered students options to expand their wardrobe’s fashion options. A glow in the dark lighting scheme incorporated black lights to illuminate the dance floor.

“It was really cool. I really liked all the neon lights and glow sticks they gave out,” said Kiara Bowerman, senior at Saint Joseph’s High School.

The overall atmosphere excited a vast majority of dance-goers who did not live through the Y2K event, which marked the turn of the 20th century into the 21st century.

“The majority of our ASB decided to do Y2K, and we’re excited for this to be a pretty good event,” said Tyler Baligad, a senior and Co-President of Bosco’s ASB.

The hard work of these individuals helped attract a larger than average turnout, in large part due to the theme being well thought out. Many of the freshmen saw their first ever high school dance, and Saint Joseph’s had only begun attending School that same Friday for orientation.

However, the dance’s success did not come without the collective hard work of those involved.

“Overall it was just really a team effort,” said Christopher De La Rosa, a senior and ASB’s Dance Commissioner. “Without people showing up and helping, we couldn’t make this happen.”

Underclassmen and upperclassmen alike agreed on the dance’s success. Many of the freshmen were surprised at how enjoyable the social aspects of school-sponsored activities can be.

“It’s really fun,” Nathaniel Brake, a freshman at Bosco, said. “Everybody’s [going to the dance], and it’s something that I think everyone should do.”