As my son Zack gets older, I am continually reminded how sometimes it’s the things that we may not put much merit in that truly mean the most to adults like him. It seems that I take for granted the very things in life that give meaning and purpose to his. When life happens and plans need to get changed, I accept this and move on. Not Zack. Change is not a concept he understands or tolerates well. Some may view this as a “spoiled child” syndrome, but when there are so few things in his life that bring him joy and mean so much to him and he has no way to expand his world without our help, how can I possibly relate?

Besides his family, what is most important to him? – His friends, school, having fun with friends, being popular, finding someplace where he fits in. All these things are contingent on one thing – the willingness of others to help him attain them. Most of the time it’s his family that supports and guides him. Other times it’s the school and all the phenomenal teachers and staff that have dedicated so much of their lives to making our students worlds just a little better each day. Then there are various organizations that hold events and activities, like the Lutz Parent Group.

For several months the parent group has been planning and working on the new Silver & Gold Dance. Honestly, when I proposed this dance back in March, it started out for personal reasons. Zack has a difficult time saying goodbye to his friends that complete, and I knew he was not alone in this struggle. Having one last hoorah for him and his friends to be together, sounded like a good idea. As the project evolved however, I realized what an impact the dances that the parent group sponsors have on our students and their families. These dances aren’t just a bunch of kids jumping up and down to music. They are something they look forward to, an opportunity to socialize with friends, a chance for our students to be themselves in an environment where no one will judge or criticize them.

From the moment we got the okay for this new dance, Zack has been counting the days. As the word got out to other students, the excitement began to build and as we get closer to the actual day, the excitement is going up exponentially. Being a new event and added during the summer when many families head up north, send students off to camp, or plan out of state vacations, wondering what the turn out would be and whether or not this dance truly made sense became a huge concern. Several things have happened however, that regardless of how many students attend or how this dance turns out, prove this dance is a success.

During the course of our planning, we have talked with many parents trying to drum up interest, recruit volunteers, and give as much notice as we could so they could mark this on the calendar and save the date. For many, plans had already been made that couldn’t be changed. For others…well, let me share one particular story with you.

Julie Berger undertook the responsibility of contacting and coordinating all the volunteers for the dance. When she contacted one of the parents, she learned that this mom was volunteering although her son wasn’t going to be able to be at the dance because he would be away at camp that week. Still, she and her daughter wanted to volunteer – a first we believe for the books!

As Julie texted back and forth about what she could bring, what time to arrive, and what her and her daughter would like to do at the dance, Julie received the following message:

And this is the response Julie received back:

THIS is why the events sponsored and supported by the parent group are important. This is why we do what we do! This is why the parent group exists! Our students truly appreciate what we do and not only does it affect them, but their moms, dads, sisters, brothers, caregivers – everyone they have contact with.

This is just one example. I have spoken to several other parents that have either changed their vacation plans or made arrangements to come back just in time for the dance. It means that much to the students and in turn means that much to their parents and caregivers. I have also talked to many students at the school while finalizing plans for the dance. Every student I have talked to is excited to the point of jumping up and down. I even had one student request a form for the dance right then and there so he could be sure to be on the list.

The dance is this Thursday, July 25 from 6:30 until 8:30. We’d love to see you there to show your support, but most of all to have a good time with the students. Summers are a busy time, so if you can’t make this dance, the Halloween Dance is right around the corner. More information to come soon.

The sacrafices we make for our students, the hoops we jump through, the lengths we go to support and teach them that life has not counted them out – it’s all worth it when you see how much joy they get from something as simple as “just a dance.”

Thanks for reading ~

Lisa D.