VIDEO: 400 Attend Freshman Winter Formal

By Brandi Makuski
Strapless dresses and bow ties were all the rage at Saturday’s Freshman Winter Formal, where more than 400 local ninth graders danced the night away.
The joint dance, now in it’s fifth year, was open to ninth graders from Ben Franklin and P.J. Jacobs junior high schools and held in the SPASH south commons. It’s a first taste of formal dances for ninth graders, who are technically high school students but attend classes at the city’s two junior high schools because of space issues at the high school. The dance was sponsored by the Stevens Point Noon Optimist Club.
“Parent groups used to host these [dances] at the junior highs,” said Hayley Marschke, president of Noon Optimist Club. “We picked it up from there and made it a joint dance, and it keeps getting bigger and more fun every year.”
Kryptonite Karaoke & DJ Entertainment provided music and a photo booth, and a candy bar and beverages were provided by Gimme Some Sugar and Sweet’n Easy. Three Stevens Point police officers were on site to provide additional security, and about a dozen chaperons from the Noon Optimist Club and junior high schools were also in attendance.
Students in grades 10-12 at SPASH will celebrate their winter formal on Feb. 20 at the school.
https://youtu.be/Fleb8XbnVFc