This year, much to the envy of the upperclassmen, the ninth grade class was given an exciting new opportunity: an exclusive, freshmen-only Glow-in-the-Dark Dance. LOFT, a youth-based group from PACT of Pelham, sponsored and funded the dance in order to create a welcoming and safe environment for freshmen.
The glow in the dark theme proved to be a success among the students. Cafeteria C was dark, except for the fluorescent glow sticks and black light signs hanging on the walls. The sides of the gym were lined with tables overflowing with platters of food from local Pelham restaurants, including J Cafe, Cantina Lobos and Rockwells. Music, mixed by DJ Stephen Byfield, blared from the speakers surrounding the cafeteria, enticing students to dance.

“I thought the dance was a cute idea, and it was cool to have the glow in the dark theme,” freshman Sophia Leung said.

LOFT is an extracurricular club that allows students from Westchester schools to create solutions for social challenges that kids deal with. The ideas the students come up with are presented through polls and receive suggestions from the public on potential improvements.

The primary objective of PACT is to support non-violence and to have fun without the presence of drugs or alcohol. They spread their message through Y2Y and other clubs in and out of Pelham schools.

Angelina Rosa, a senior at PMHS and a member of LOFT, said, “Over the summer during my PACT Internship I was thinking about how underclassmen don’t really have nighttime events at the high school, let alone a dance. This was a way to welcome them to the high school while instilling in them the idea that it’s totally possible to have fun with friends without drugs or alcohol.”