As Homecoming approaches, cabinet members find themselves working extra hard to make sure it won’t turn into a disappointment for the student body. The turn-out rate at the dances last year declined enormously. This year’s cabinet has taken serious measures to ensure better attendance at dances.

   “We have spent a lot of time worrying about making the dances fun,” public relations commissioner Turner Brown, senior, said.

   This year’s Homecoming is scheduled for Oct. 21 in the small gym. Social commissioner Ashley Sivils, senior, finds holding the dance in the small gym a benefit to the student body.

   “It’s going to be in the small gym so it’s going to appear like there are more people,” Sivils said. “It’s going to be more fun because we will all be together; it won’t be as much open space.”

   Moving Homecoming into the small gym not only helps pump up the crowd, but it will also cool off students.

   “We can get some doors open and get some air flowing to cool it off a little bit,” secretary Nathan Pearce said.

   A goal cabinet has set this year is better decorations.

   Art commissioner, Olivia Trinca, senior, is in charge of all the decorations for Homecoming. This year, since Homecoming is on Oct.21, the theme will be Fright Night.  

   “It (small-gym) is going to be a lot more decorated in the entrance and in the actual dance because I want to make it an experience for the students,” Trinca said. “I’m working on making a haunted forest right now, and also some haunted houses.”

   “The decorations are going to be awesome,” Sivils said. “It’s going to be Halloween themed so we are getting smoke machines. It’s going to be cool.”

   Vice President John Watson, senior, sees holding the dance in the small gym as a benefit to the dance’s overall appearance.

   “We have really upped the decorations,” Watson said. “The smaller gym equals smaller space to decorate, so we can spend more money and spend more time.”

   Previously at dances, a photographer was hired to take a picture of dates who were willing to pay. This year, cabinet members broke tradition and were economy-friendly.

   “There’s going to be a backdrop, so bring your own camera and a teacher can take your picture,” Trinca said.

  Not only are the decorations going to be improved, but the Homecoming dance playlist has been completely renovated.

   “We have better music, and we literally can play probably whatever we want because I’m putting it in garage band and I can edit all of the bad stuff out and then join it together,” Sivils said.

   Hospitality commissioner Hailey Swanson, senior sees changing the playlist as a way to stay up-to-date.

   “Ashley has been working to get new music approved because some of the music is outdated, so she’s been trying to get more stuff that we listen to now,” Swanson said.   

    To make sure more students could have a say in what went on the playlist, Sivils made a Facebook group open to any members of the Glendale student body.  This allows students to request songs to play ahead of time.

   Along with the new playlist, DJ Brice Clark will be hosting this year’s Homecoming.

   “He (Brice Clark) has good lights and he is very personable with the student body,” Sivils said.

   DJ Brice Clark has a reputable light show he will be putting on at this year’s Homecoming.

   “DJ Brice Clark is putting on a killer light show,” Trinca said.

   Cabinet members are faithful that dances have finally reached a happy medium with students and the administration.

   “Administration has been much more open minded this year,” Trinca said.

   Molly Brewer, spirit commissioner, senior, is positive that the administration is more trusting.

   “We have gained a lot of credit for them so far,” Brewer said. “We had a meeting with them and they said that it’s awkward for them too, and they don’t want to do it, but they are going to be more lenient I think.”

   Swanson is optimistic that this year’s dances will go smoother.

   “I think the administration was still getting in the groove last year because some of them are new, so they kind of saw what worked and what didn’t last year,” Swanson said. “They are working with us based on their experience, which is nice. They have been very flexible with us on what we want to do, and have taken into consideration all of our different ideas.”

   Cabinet is in hopes that this year, Homecoming will have a higher turn-out rate.

   “We are ready to show underclassmen how Glendale dances really are through school spirit,” Watson said. “They are going to feel like they have a good dance.”

    Brewer agrees with Watson, and is in hopes that more students will show up.

   “The more people that come, the better it will be,” Brewer said. “If they go into it thinking it is going to be fun, then it will be fun.”

    Sivils believes that if Homecoming goes smoothly, the rest of the dances are sure to follow.

   “They (students) need to come because it’s going to be the opener of the year,” Sivils said.