HIGH POINT, Mo. — The line of cars with parents dropping off their junior high students at the High Point Dance wrapped around the school baseball field and extended far enough west on Route C that the Missouri Highway Patrol was there to assist.
For more than a decade, the semi-formal event has drawn up to 400 fifth- through eighth-grade students from Russellville, California, Jamestown, Clarksburg, Latham, St. Andrews and Eldon, as well as the host school.
“Our school is so small, to have an event like this we must invite other schools,†said student council sponsor Kerry Eidson.
Girls arrived in boots and high heels, floor-length gowns and sundresses. The boys wore vests and bow ties, plaid button downs or suits.
The parents dropping off the students ranged from eager to apprehensive.
For many, this is their first opportunity for such a social occasion, said Missy Blankenship, a PTO volunteer working the parking crew.
The well-organized night drew nearly 50 volunteers from school employees, community members, PTO members and other parents.
With eight schools and four grade levels, the student council-sponsored event worked smoothly. Students brought signed permission slips, checked in by school with an emergency contact and were color-stamped for the staggered pick-up times by grade.
“It’s a lengthy evening, but I think the parents appreciate we keep it safe,†Blankenship said.
Once checked in, the students headed into the darkened gym, where a disco ball spun above mid-court and the DJ’s speakers were thumping popular beats. As might be expected, students’ personalities ranged from the social butterflies to the introverted wallflowers.
Most students arranged to meet with friends, like California eighth-grader Josie McGinnis.
Others arrived with someone special, like California seventh-grader Israel Lovins.
In addition to the concession stand, many students made the science room-turned photo studio a priority stop. Hats and props could add to the fun of a photo of friends, printed out within minutes.
California fifth-graders Savannah Smith and Travis Prettyman both bought new clothes for the dance but found time to leave the dance floor to take some fun pictures at the photo booth.
“This has been the talk of the school all year long,†said High Point math teacher Tara Johnson.
High Point eighth-grader Jack Pearson is a class representative to the student council and was the 2015 dance king. Having so many students at the dance can be intimidating, but at the same time, it’s exciting he said.
Fellow High Point eighth-grader Trevor Porter, student council treasurer, said he hoped the theme “Out of this World†would make the evening fun for their guests.
Pearson said the council is proud to offer the dance for other schools’ students. However, what he enjoys most is using the funds raised to provide Christmas gifts for High Point area families in need.
The event originated with former superintendent Toni Westbrooks in the early 2000s. She was always looking for fun activities for the students and thought this would be a good way for the eighth-graders in particular to meet students from area schools with whom they might be going to high school with in coming years.
“She was a fun person and loved life in general,†said maintenance employee Mike Blankenship.
Although a skeptic when Westbrooks first proposed the event about 2002, Mike Blankenship said he was surprised to find “It worked beautifully; this is incredible.
“I love to watch the kids come dressed up; it’s one of my favorite events of the year.â€