As a prelude to Friday’s glow dance, elementary students in Kim Germscheid’s STEM classes learned the science behind how things glow.
In short, black lights emit invisible ultraviolet light. Bright colors that the UV light shines upon re-emit it at a different wavelength, making “neon” material appear to glow.
Wanting her students to get the most out of the glow dance, Germscheid brought some black lights into her classroom to determine the colors of clothing that will glow: white and bright versions of blue, green, yellow and purple…dark colors not so much.
“You will see a lot of neon colors because she showed them what colors look best,” said K-8 counselor Shanna Roloff, who, along with physical education teacher Charlie Haugen, supervised the event.
Held in the new gym and commons, the glow dance was originally planned for last fall, but when a virus made its way through the elementary, school staff didn’t want to disappoint kids who would not be able to attend, so they decided to postpone the event until spring, Roloff said.
It was worth the wait. More than 100 pre-school through fourth graders attended
“We had an awesome turnout today,” Roloff said.
Besides moving to songs like the “Cupid Shuffle,” “The Chicken Dance” and “YMCA,” kids could have their face painted, get a temporary tattoo, color, buy snacks and glow sticks from the concession stand, and play glow-in-the-dark tic tac toe and hopscotch.
Further enhancing their experience, some students made projects using neon materials, like ribbon twirlers and boxes, and brought them to the dance, Roloff said.
There were 17 Elementary Student Council members (fifth and sixth graders) on hand to help with the event.
Sixth grader Anistyn Dauk was one of the elementary student council members working the glow dance. She collected the entry fee.
Fourth graders Lucy Smith, Kennedy Dauk, Kendall Kern and Breanna Bosse at the photo booth.
Kindergartner Zoey Hunt gets a tattoo courtesy of fifth grader Kennedy Schleeve.
Jordie Seely, Gwen Otto and Zoey Hunt accessorized with glow rings. They are all in Karin Miller’s kindergarten class.
For this group of boys, it was more glow football than glow dance.
Theory Ledvina
A group of girls on the dance floor.
First graders Emmeline McLister, Presley Ledvina and Rylee Pribyl.
Theory Ledvina, Piper Brandt and Emilia Marchan-Ellefson. They are members of Katie Hollerich’s kindergarten class.
Second graders Rylee Weber, Destini Logan, MacKenzie Corr and Kennedy Leonard.
Fourth grader Adli Hoisington
Graham Schleeve and Calvin Otto went with a ’stash. They are in Emily Elverum’s second-grade class.
Grant Koonst and Camden Meyer.
First grader Presley Ledvina.
Sixth graders Hadley Thompson, Hazel O’Keefe and Addison Sandhurst worked concessions, where you could purchase both snacks and glow sticks.
Brothers Emery Hankins (kindergarten) and Jaxson Hankins (second grade) added glow rings to their cowboy look.
Rowen Pearson and Chloe Schultz
Paisley Schultz (first grade), Emry Miller (first grade), Camden Meyer and Logann Meyer (first grade).
Madison Green gets a tattoo from Hadley Thompson.
Third grader Jasmine Wolf made a glow ribbon for the dance.
Kids play glow hopscotch.
Second graders Dakota Hoheisel, Destini Logan and Madison Green.
Grant Koonst applies a tattoo while Anistyn Dauk watches.
Second grader Sonja Koppelman.
Breanna Groebner decorates the face of James Smith.
Face painting
“Cupid Shuffle”
“Chicken Dance”