The bass thumped through the speakers as students formed an energetic conga line, swaying to the beat in MVHS’s auxiliary gym for the St. Patrick’s Day Dance. Some danced in their own groups and pairs, or enjoyed the provided snacks.
Taking place from 9:30-11:30a.m. on Friday, March 14, the dance provided an energetic space where students from the Life Skills department and beyond could come together, interact with new people, and have fun.
The dance welcomed students from multiple schools, including from the MVLA and Santa Clara districts, according to attendee Ethan Thompson, MVHS’s instructional assistant.
“I see other students here that get to connect with people that understand them on a different level,” Thompson said. “It’s really fun, and [the] music connects everybody.”
The joy in the gym went beyond music as well — inclusivity was a large theme throughout the dance that counselor David Marroquin, who attended the event, noticed.
“[The dance] is an opportunity for [the students] to really connect with not only each other but from students from other high schools,” Marroquin said. “To me, it’s about having the opportunity to have this space for them to be able to feel comfortable and have fun.”
From start to finish, the dance floor was vibrant, thanks in part to Spartan Buddies. Spartan Buddies is a club that is dedicated to promoting inclusivity for students in special education, according to the ASB website, and they played a big role in fostering connections among students, said Marroquin.
“The dance was amazing,” sophomore Emmy Su, a member of Spartan Buddies, said. “You meet so many fun kids and you get to really bond. It’s a bridge between the mainstream students and the special ed department.”
This dance was developed and planned through the dedication of teachers such as Spartan Buddies club advisor Seamus Quillinan and special education teachers Kathy Brenner and Diane Esparza, Thompson said.
“This dance has been super, super fun,” sophomore Jannat Bhatia said. “It’s really great to bond with the special education team, especially from other schools. That doesn’t happen very often.”
