By Michael Sugerman

Last year, Head of School Jeanne Huybrechts stood in front of the student body and said, “Semiformal as we know it is history.” This year, seniors brought it back in a whole new way.

Decked in formal garments, armed with cameras and ready for a game of “sparkling cider pong,” seniors staged an impromptu semiformal on Friday, Jan. 27.

The event was instigated via the senior Facebook page.

The morning of the in-school formal, seniors displayed a poster under the stairs to Seaver that read “Welcome to Semiformal,” and by midday, the poster had changed to “Welcome to After-Party.” According to senior prefect Hank Doughan ’12, the after-party aspect was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek mockery of last year’s after-party, which — due to excessive drinking and hospitalization — ultimately led to semiformal’s indefinite cancellation.

“I think our grade just wanted to do something to keep the spirit of semiformal alive and bond as a class,” Kristen Lee ’12 said.

For the most part, the event was well-received by administration, Doughan said. However, the sparkling cider pong was immediately halted by Director of Student Affairs Jordan Church and Upper School chaplain Father J. Young, as it was seen to be inappropriate.

“I think it was justified,” Doughan said. “Truthfully, it was kind of stupid.”