Belle Mulhern, Managing Editor

     Senior Media Literacy students Isabella Saccomano, Amber Bloom and Alayna Moorhead plan to reinstate Penn-Trafford’s old “MORP” tradition this year through their newly-created “Neon Dance.”
     Before officially declaring a theme for the dance, the seniors posted a Twitter poll on Sept. 19 asking if students would prefer a Winter White-Out dance or something similar to the neon atmosphere of MORP. The results of the poll favored toward the Neon Dance with a 66 to 34 percent outcome.
Since the poll results, the 7th period Media Literacy class has been working ceaselessly at providing the best dance they can.
     Unlike MORP, which served as a prom fundraiser, all proceeds collected from the Neon Dance will be donated to P-T’s “Backpack Program,” which helps to give school supplies and other necessities to children with families who are struggling financially.
      “I loved MORP and didn’t want the seniors to miss out on something that we enjoyed so much,” Bloom stated. “We wanted to make sure that was possible for our senior class and for the incoming freshmen because they may not get another MORP.”
     Saccomano added, “It literally will be MORP, it’s just not called that because it’s not associated with prom.”
     Media Literacy teacher Kathy Kelly-Garris has helped her students with formulating ideas for the dance, gathering decorations, and providing a starting fund for ticket sales..
     Alongside Kelly-Garris’s help is fiscal and preparation aid from principals Tony Aquilio, Greg Capoccioni and Amy Horvat.
     “All of the administration have definitely helped in all of this,” said Bloom.
     Upon entering the dance, all attendees will receive a free Chick-fil-a sandwich. If a student is uninterested in the sandwich at that time, a Chick-fil-a card is also available and can be redeemed on a later date at any Chick-fil-a restaurant.
     Because free food is being provided at the dance, the cost of tickets is an additional $5 than initially thought and will cost $15 a person to attend.
Approximately $400 has been dedicated to the proper planning and decoration of the dance. These costs include lighting, music and even smaller things like cardstock to create and sell tickets.
     The dance has hired a local DJ for the Neon Dance, and the playlist to be used was created entirely by the Media Literacy class.
     Saccomano remarked, “I feel like there are points in time at homecoming where a song comes on and it’s just not a vibe, and I’m like, ‘Time for a water.’ I want to make it so that never happens.”
     Outside guests will also be permitted to attend the Neon Dance, but like homecoming or prom, an outside guest form must be filled out and turned in.
     The Neon Dance will be held on Dec. 13 beginning at 7 p.m. in the gym and concluding at 10:30 p.m. Students will be allowed to leave at 10 p.m., just as homecoming would permit.
Ticket sales began on Nov. 21 and will run until Dec. 12 in all lunches.