PTA leaders host dance for ‘all to come together’

On Friday, Feb. 2, the Bayport-Blue Point School District’s elementary schools held their annual Kids Invite Someone Special (KISS) Dance.

Antonia Sautter, a PTA leader and Blue Point Elementary mom who headed the committee for her school, called the event a “resounding success… that was made possible by the generous work and donations of the many parents of BPE, the BPE Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the BPE building staff, and the BBP Public Library—all who come together each year to give the kids a night to remember.”   

Welcoming all students, family, and community members, “the dance embraces our district’s school motto: ‘Where you belong, where we believe in you and where anything is possible,’” said Sautter.

The focus of the dance is to invite “someone special,” whether it be parents, step-parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, or siblings

The reframing allows for nontraditional or extended family members to participate.

“This year’s event was like no other: the dance combined dancing, music, games, a photo booth, a quiet room, and a breakdancing competition into a nonstop party. 

As in years past, this year the dance focused on making sure all attendees had an enjoyable experience. Organizers opened doors 30 minutes earlier for kids who benefit from smaller crowds and softer music, as it allows those who need it an opportunity to acclimate to the venue,” said Sautter.

In keeping in line with the tenet of inclusivity, a “quiet room” was set up and fully staffed with soft lighting, sensory toys, arts and crafts activities, and low noise.

“The quiet room is intended to allow children to take a moment away from the energy of the dance floor if they are feeling overwhelmed. This year, the quiet room also included noise-canceling headphones. The PTA offered the noise-canceling headphones to students that may be sensitive to loud noise but wanted to participate in the dance. Many students reported the headphones made the dance more enjoyable. The exciting part was to have a dance floor that accommodated everyone,” said Sautter.

“Every family is unique, and we aimed to create a space where each student could bring a parent or important adult in their life to enjoy the evening together. It was about fostering a sense of community and belonging for everyone,” said Molly Bertran, who led the PTA for the Sylvan Avenue dance.

Event planners sought to balance the activities at the dance by providing options for different age groups and interests, from traditional dance features like a D.J. (“who kept the kids engaged and moving all night, playing everything from Taylor Swift to the cha-cha slide,” according to mom, Danielle Savage), to a photo booth with fun props, and variety of fun snacks such as cotton candy.
Tables were set up with Legos and blocks, crafts, and art supplies for the kids to engage in activities they enjoy with their loved ones.

“If you missed out this year, we urge you to come next year! It’s an amazing opportunity to connect with your child’s school community in a relaxed and joyful setting. Seeing our students and their families having fun together was truly heartwarming,” said Bertran.