Yelm High School’s National Honor Society will be hosting the annual son and daughter dances at the high school on March 15 and March 16, continuing a tradition that has stretched back for several years.
The Daughter Dance, which started in 2007 and was hosted by another organization and Yelm High School, was taken over by the National Honor Society in 2011. In 2020, the NHS added a Son Dance, and after COVID caused a shutdown, the high school hosted it for the first time in 2022.
“The dances are for fifth grade and younger kids to come enjoy a fun night with their chosen adult(s),” Yelm High School teacher and NHS Advisor Latasha Johnson said. “We welcome anyone and everyone. If someone wants to bring both parents, a dad and grandpa, or any other adult ... we welcome all.”
The Son Dance will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 15, while the Daughter Dance will take place at the same time on Saturday, March 16. Both dances will be in the Yelm High School Commons. The theme this year is masquerade, and there will be masks for students and kids to decorate with markers, stickers and rhinestones.
“Especially in our community with folks perhaps being deployed/stationed elsewhere, we often have other family members bring kids,” Johnson said. “I have even seen in the past high school students bring their younger siblings because mom/dad/etc., are not able to attend. Elementary kids do not have ASB cards or driver’s licenses, so as long as an adult or adults accompany them, they are welcome to attend, even if they do not attend a school in Yelm.”
Chips, soda and bottled water will be for sale at the dance. There will also be a live DJ.
“Our DJ is always really great,” Johnson said. “In addition to playing songs to dance to, he also does games like musical chairs and group dances like the Hokey Pokey. National Honor Society students are there to assist with those activities.”
There will also be crafts in the library for students. Johnson added many National Honor Society students attended the dance in elementary school and said they still have the craft that they made at the dance.
“We also have pictures,” Johnson said. “Now that most people have phones with cameras and we want to help folks save money, we provide backgrounds and ask participants to bring their phones. National Honor Society students will be there to take the photos, but this means attendees can take as many photos as they want, take some with friends, take goofy photos and create picture memories without having to worry about cost.”
The event is a popular one in Yelm as some groups make a whole event out of the evening with dinner before and maybe dessert afterward. Some people arrive in limos, coordinate their outfits and go the extra mile with corsages and boutonnieres and other fun aspects.
The proceeds from the dance go to the Yelm National Honor Society and is the organization’s only fundraiser.
“The money raised helps pay for our national affiliation membership, which we have to renew every year,” Johnson said. “The money raised also helps to pay for our annual induction ceremony costs (custodial, certificates) as well as supplies through the year such as the cards, paper, materials we use for the annual Hugs for Soldiers in which members create cards to send to deployed military members, cards for teacher appreciation week and advertising supplies for our annual food drives.”
Besides Johnson, a staff member selling tickets for the dance, a custodian and administrator, the dance is staffed by Yelm National Honor Society members, who are juniors and seniors at the high school.
“Usually about 15-30 students work each event,” Johnson said.
The dress code is semi-formal/dress casual, meaning most people come in dresses, slacks and collared shirts.
“But we have had ball gowns, suits/ties, tuxedos, military dress and everything in between,” Johnson said. “The feel of the dance is a little dressy, but all are welcome so long as their clothing follows the district dress code.”
Cost for the dance is $10 per person, payable at the door. Yelm High School can take credit/debit cards, checks or cash. Concessions are cash only, and there is no ATM on campus.
The National Honor Society is a nationally recognized organization in U.S. high schools. Membership is based on students’ GPAs, community service and leadership. Only students who have completed three semesters’ worth of high school are invited to attend if their GPAs are high enough. To be able to mark on college/scholarship applications that they are members of NHS, the YHS chapter must be in good standing with the national organization, something this dance allows Yelm to do.
