Written By: Izzy Bernie, Sadie Kolodner, Chiara Perkins

On November 23, the Athletic Center was transformed into Gotham City, setting the stage for a Batman-themed Fall Formal, where students from all grades celebrated the season in style. Hosted by the 12th-grade student government and supported by administration and faculty members, this year’s event combined decorations, music, and a touch of superhero flair to create an unforgettable evening. 

The event started at 7:30 pm, and upon arrival, students checked in just outside the basketball courts. From there, they were admitted to a dimly lit space decorated to mirror the world of Batman. The attention to detail was evident in every corner, from the colored lighting to the flooring that tied the room together. The student government’s hard work and collaboration with the administration and Ms. Malloy, the events planner at RCDS, shone through, featuring a creative photo booth with numerous props and a generous spread of food, including pizza, cookies, brownies, and drinks.

You might be wondering why students were required to check-in. This was because attendance was RSVP-only, and a ticket fee of $18.69 was required to enter the event. While it might seem like a steep price, the funds raised from ticket sales were given to the Business Office and the student body government account. These funds provide Student Body President Emily Cheigh ‘25 and Student Body Vice President Nola Coady ‘26 with the necessary money, which they can share with other grade’s stugo and use for future exciting events for RCDS. Cheigh shared that “ticket sales are pretty similar to last year, coming in at around 320 tickets sold, which is $5980.” 

320 tickets, which means that about one-third of the RCDS student population, RSVP’d for this event, and the grade with the most attendees was the freshman class. Various freshmen offered a perspective on the Fall Formal; Paige Donovan ‘28 said, “Fall formal was literally a movie” and Lilly Kercher ‘28 noted that she enjoyed the food. Lucy Shurslep ‘28 said, “It had nice lighting and a really good DJ.” Speaking of the DJ, he was a hit for the night. His booth, with the name DJ CJ written on it, was at the front of the room, playing some of 2024’s most trending songs, with a few students dancing. The mood picked up quickly as soon as Travis Scott’s hit song FE!N featuring Playboi Carti hit the speakers, and everyone joined the dance floor. Interestingly, the majority of the attendees were groups of friends, with only a few dates. Overall, Fall Formal had a lively and welcoming atmosphere. 

Why not homecoming? Although many schools call their fall dance ‘homecoming,’ RCDS decided to call the dance Fall Formal instead this year. Homecoming traditionally is held close to the season’s championship football game. However, since this year’s dance took place after the football season had ended, the Fall Formal felt more fitting. Throughout the weeks prior, you may have heard the term fall semi-formal used to describe the dance, which is an administrative term, often used by Mr. Q, as said by Cheigh, “to clarify dress code questions about whether or not kids needed to show up in a tux or something super fancy.” 

“I felt it was important to me to start homecoming for the first time in RCDS history, and it happened,” Cheigh said. The 2024-2025 school year marks the second time the student government has hosted a fall dance, with last year’s homecoming and this year’s Fall Formal bringing the community closer together with music and food. Cheigh spoke about her goals, saying, “ I hope that I’ve been able to start this tradition that can continue for many years to come.” Establishing something new without any preexisting building blocks is no small feat, but this new dance started by our Student Body President will hopefully become a long-lasting tradition in the RCDS community. 

The theme selection for the formal was primarily driven by Cheigh, Coady, and Luke Stronski ‘25, the senior class president. However, the entire student government played a role in finalizing the theme and assisting with decorations. After considering several ideas, they settled on Batman and Gotham City for their uniqueness. While most students arrived in traditional formal attire such as dresses and suits, a few fully embraced the theme, with some dressing as Batman or other Gotham characters.

As the night came to an end, students left the Athletic Center with smiles, pictures, and many great memories. This year’s Fall Formal was a reflection of the community’s creativity and enthusiasm, brought to life through the hard work of the student government and faculty. With its unique theme, energetic music, and welcoming atmosphere, the event showed just how much fun RCDS students can have when they come together. The hope is that Fall Formal will continue to grow as a beloved tradition in the years to come.