By Nora Weber

Last month, we had our first-ever semi-formal middle school dance at the Bradley Beach Fire Department Banquet Hall. The event was glow-themed, featuring neon lights, balloons, hanging paper stars, and plenty of glowing gadgets for students to wear.

The Student Council – led by Ms Acerra and Mrs. Covert – provided an assortment of delicious food, including chicken fingers, pasta, tacos, and taquitos dorados de pollo, as well as desserts like cupcakes and churros.

Students had fun playing various games such as bowling, Jenga, and Tic-Tac-Toe. The dance floor was always lively, whether with people line dancing or moving along to familiar songs.

If you weren’t dancing, playing games, or enjoying the food, you could get your picture taken at one of the themed photo backdrops.

There were 77 kids present in fifth to eighth grades, the largest turnout for a dance in recent memory. Seventh and eighth grades both showed 100% attendance, and sixth grade was on the dance floor the most that night. In addition to Ms Acerra and Mrs. Covert, there were nine chaperones, plus Mr. LeProtto as deejay. From 6 to 8 pm, Mr. LeProtto was blasting music and taking requests from everyone.

“The dance was fantastic because it wasn’t at the gym, and I really liked the candy,” said sixth grader Juliana Robinson.

This amazing event was at no cost to the students because the Student Council funded the whole thing. Good news: they are planning to hold something similar next year as well.