Students, teachers and staff of Bremen High School District 228 packed Tinley Park High School’s gym Friday night to show off their best moves.
All four of the district’s schools united for the inaugural fundraiser, “Dancing with the District 228 Stars,” to help save a district-wide program called Operation Snowball, which for 25 years has taught teenagers the importance of making wise lifestyle decisions.
Every October about 140 students in District 228 go to Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort for a three-day retreat. They learn about alcohol, drugs, goal-setting, sex and relationships.
However, the $10,000 federal grant that financed the Snowball program was cut, Snowball sponsor Barb Kotchas said.
Hoping to save the program, Tinley Park High School principal Theresa Zielinski thought having a district-wide competition would be a great way to raise money for it.
“I’m a former Tinley Park High School athlete so I automatically think competition,” Zielinski said Friday night, over the crowd of screaming students. “I thought this would be a fun way to compete without people getting hurt.”
Zielinski said planning for the fundraiser, a takeoff on the popular TV show “Dancing with the Stars,” began in November. Dance instructors from the Heart & Sole dance studio in Tinley Park taught teachers basic dance moves, and the rest of the choreography was up to them.
Tinley Park High School duo Tanisha Parks and Mike Boniface wowed the crowd with their vibrant dance moves. Parks wore a white strapless dress with fringe and red heels, while Boniface donned white suspenders and a red button-down shirt.
“Going into it we were a little nervous,” Parks said. “But once we got out there, we were just like having fun with it.”
Thrilled with the overwhelming turnout, Assistant Principal Wendy Bumphis said organizers weren’t sure what to expect.
“We were nervous,” she said. “As of (Thursday), we hadn’t sold 100 tickets yet.”
Those attending the event got two raffle tickets to use to vote for their favorite act. Tinley Park High School senior Chris Taylor knew exactly how he would vote.
“I’m voting for (someone from) my school,” the 17-year-old said. “How can we lose when we’re in our own gym?”
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services