Fashion, Activities, and Hopes From CKHS Students at TOLO 2023
TOLO started as a promotion for the all-womens honor society at University of Washington with a Chinook meaning success and achievment. This is a girls choice dance with a disco theme this year at Central Kitsap High School.
TOLO is girls choice much like a Sadie Hawkins dance. This year on March 18, 2023, at Central Kitsap High School the theme of the girls choice dance was disco! Students are invited to the school from 7p.m. to 10p.m. for snacks, drinks, music, karaoke, and many other activities in the commons and band hall for much fun.
For this dance, students were allowed to invite non-Central Kitsap students to the dance with a signed formed. The only limitations to this was that each guest had to be between 14-19 years old. Many students were excited for another school dance this year with a solid more than 500 tickets sold. Due to COVID-19 many dances were canceled, socially distanced, and less enjoyable overall for many, but now that it is closer to the norm things are starting to look up.
A poll was conducted during all 3 lunches on March 8, 9, and 12, 2023. Then again the day before the dance March 17 and 20, 2023. The poll concluded with many results, many of which were similar, but each special in their own way.
Most student plans for before and after the dance included going to the waterfront to take photos accompanied with going out to dinner and then having sleepovers.
“Before [TOLO] I hung out with my friends while getting ready and doing each other’s nails…took pictures in time of the sunset, ”said Phoebe Mejica, a junior at Central Kitsap High School. “Ate a little bit of food afterwards and on our way to school since we were late to get ready. After the dance we all went to have a sleepover.”
When it came to the theme of TOLO some students weren’t super thrilled but many others took the idea to heart, basing their outfits on it. Colette Miller, who is a senior at Central Kitsap, wore a 1970s flowery dress with a turtleneck, blingy jewelry, and white boots. Sparkles, sequins, and velvet; much of the disco era consisted of pops of color and funky designs.
The floor was full of teens swarming to the dance circle in the center of the commons. The songs in particular that got the most people on the floor were “Starships” by Nicki Minaj, “Work” by Rihanna, and “No hands” by Waka Flocka Flame/Wale. If students weren’t dancing, many were by the food and drinks talking, having a good time next to Mrs. Ferate’s game room or out on the back patio.
As students walked down the hall toward the commons there was an entrance of lights, purple tinsel hanging with a DJ stand across the dance floor, and then dangling twinkle lights that turned to purple lit up tables full of snacks with a photo booth to the right next to the office.
With the assortment of activities to enjoy, dances are an experience that can last the full 2 hours and 30 minutes. Overall,
TOLO was voted as quite an enjoyable event this year. Many liked the theme with a few suggestions for future dances being western, dark fairytale, and masquerade.