An ‘enchanted evening under the stars’
The Port St. Joe High School Class of 2029 definitely had a night to remember as they attended their Eighth Grade Formal on April 12. This year the committee decided to open the event, not only to PSJ eighth graders, but also to local homeschool and private school students, which allowed over 60 of the best dressed students to attend the event. The girls were absolutely beautiful with formal dresses, jewelry, and heels and the guys were sharp in their best suits; both groups wearing the absolute largest smiles across their faces.
As the students entered the gym, its use donated by the elementary school and principal Jessica Brock, they were immediately greeted with music by deejay Sticky Snyder. He played all the recent hits (of course the clean versions). There was not one single moment the dance floor was empty! He was perfect, taking song requests and interacting with the students. To set the “Enchanted Evening Under the Stars” theme, the dance floor was surrounded by black pipe and drape, donated by Panache Tent & Event, and decorated with gold stars and bistro lights, donated by Blast on the Bay.
Between song breaks, the students fueled back up at the food table donated by ChrisAnne’s Sweet Treats, Brickwall, Provisions, and the Italian Kitchen. The food choices were the best and only crumbs were left at the end of the night.
Another option they had in taking a break from dancing, was visiting with Sarah Stanton and the Photo Booth. Here each student had the chance to take as many pictures as they wanted to remember the night.
This night would not have been possible without the planning of the eighth grade parent committee (Jenny Fosshage, Lauren Jones, Boots Temple, Lee Dixon, Stacie Snow, ChrisAnne Kirchner, and Mary Clayton) and the work from several other parents and students. All these individuals worked tirelessly at the Farmer Markets, selling formal tickets, assembling and disassembling the decorations, and working to make sure all the details were perfect.
When they say it takes a village to raise a kid, they mean it. Without the community’s help, this event would have never happened so smoothly. We cannot thank everyone enough for making this eighth grade formal an “Enchanted Evening Under the Stars” to remember!
Special thank you to School Resource Officer Sylvia Sheline and all the parents for giving up for Saturday evening to help chaperone this event.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.