The eighth grade formal is an event that marks the end of the three- year journey students take when transitioning to high school. This event takes place at Edison Intermediate School (EIS). The eighth grade dance offers food, a DJ, photo booth, and it even has a theme! The eighth graders were asked what they wanted the theme to be, and the chosen theme was beach and boardwalk.
Eighth grader Hannah Gilman stated, “My Mom is one of the people in charge of getting the dance ready. The dance will serve food such as chicken fingers, pizza, chips, and even a dessert.”
Media Specialist and Student Government advisor Mr. Andrew Cusumano has helped organize the dance for over 8 years. He explained, “The eighth grade dance has been a
tradition well before I started working at EIS. The parents work very hard to make the gym look beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing the boardwalk theme this year. It is always a very successful event.”
This event is a dance, meaning you dress up for it. Many eighth grade girls were asked what color dress they were wearing. Eighth grader Drew Lichtental said, “I’m wearing a light green dress.”
Another eighth grader, Paige Everett, said, “I’m wearing a black and white dress from Edikted.”
After asking many eighth graders what color they were wearing, we found that blue and pink are the most popular colors this year. Not only girls are incorporating color into their outfits. Couples and friends are planning to wear matching ties or shirts to match their dates. Nicole DiMattina was asked what the eighth grade formal meant to her. She stated, “The eighth grade formal is like the last hurrah before people part in different ways to summer activities and different schools.”
Not only eighth graders are excited about the dance, but the upcoming grades will get to experience the dance in the future. Sixth grader Brynn Trosoi declared, “I’m excited for my future dance; it means I have grown up, and I get to be with my friends!”
When is this celebration taking place? It is on June 14th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The dance is taking place in the EIS gymnasium and the courtyard. This year, the organizers decided to give away t-shirts that the eighth graders will wear to school the Monday after the dance. Seventh grader Greyson Mackaluso will be the DJ at the dance. Greyson even has some other experience playing music for student vs. faculty sporting events at EIS.
However, dances might not be some people’s cup of tea. Sixth grade student Ethan Malanga has already decided, “I don’t want to go to the formal.”
The attendance at the dance is not mandatory, and every student in eighth grade has the choice to attend the event or not. The tickets are $25 a person. Some SGA members are helping set up and serve food at the dance. Seventh grader Nico Rinaldi explained, “If I don’t have lacrosse, I am planning on helping set up the food and serving refreshments at the dance.”
