Franklin Junior/Senior High School life skills teachers and administrators are teaming up to host a special dance for students with learning and physical disabilities.
“We want it to be big, like movie star big,” FHS life skills teacher Emily Bartlett said.
The formal dance will be held March 21 at the high school and will be open to life skills students in grades nine through 12. However, Bartlett said, the intentions behind the dance are not to be misinterpreted.
The purpose for the dance, Bartlett said, will be for students in life skills classes to have the chance to attend a formal dance with their peers.
“(Students) aren’t always able to go to dances because of financial or other reasons, like lacking social skills. This gives them a chance to be a part of one with the people they’re most comfortable with,” she said.
Because of the challenges life skills students face when it comes to formal dances, FHS has also opened up the invitation to several other schools in Venango and Mercer counties.
“It’s our first go-around, but we thought ‘Hey, let’s do this, why not,'” Bartlett laughed.
“We’re hoping maybe businesses will want to sponsor students so they can rent a tux or people donate their old prom dresses. We want to get as many as we can,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett said there are also plans in the works to set up hair and makeup appointments for participating students, as well as serve dinner at the school before the dance.
Bartlett said the team currently working on the dance is open to new ideas and volunteers.
For more information, call FHS at (814) 432-2121.
