The Daddy-Daughter dance is an annual journalism fundraiser and tradition for many in the Montoursville community.
Kindergarten through fourth grade girls are invited to the dance with their dads to enjoy dancing, face painting, photo booth, and food.
Third grader Violet Dunkleberger went to the dance with her dad, Galen Dunkleberger.
“I loved looking at my dress and [my] hair looking very nice,” said Dunkleberger when asked about her favorite part when getting ready.
Dunkleberger said she also liked getting photos. “Me and my dad do it every year, and it is fun to do silly pictures then a nice picture with my dad,” said Dunkleberger
After the dance, Galen Dunkleberger said they have a tradition of getting ice cream. He said his favorite part about the dance was “spending time with Violet.”
In preparation for the dance, all Journalism students helped with decorations and set-up. This year, the dance was in the high school for the first time but despite this change, Mrs. Sandra Trick, the journalism teacher, said everything went smoothly.
My favorite moment was when all of the decorations came together and we looked around and we were like ‘Wow, this is really cute,’” said Trick. “It looked so nice and I think everyone was proud in that moment.”
Senior Jack Dietrich was the DJ and helped set up the sound system for the dance. Many of the girls enjoyed dancing to the music.
“I loved all the Taylor Swift songs,” said Dunkleberger. “The music was really good, I loved dancing to it.”
A favorite moment for many was the slow dance at the end of the night.
“I liked seeing all of the girls dance with their Dads at the end. It was very sweet,” said Dietrich.
“During one of the slow songs, the dance floor was filled with dads and daughters,” said Trick. “So much of the dance the girls are running around like crazy people, doing all the things little girls do, and the dads are the wallflowers, standing around.”
Trick also liked the face painting station and seeing how happy the girls were while getting their faces painted. “It was so sweet watching highschoolers interact with young girls and the little girls think highschoolers are the coolest,” said Trick.“The students who did it sat there very patiently sitting for two hours, taking requests and making it happen,” said Trick.
“Mentorship is happening, young girls can see ‘this is what I can do in high school, I can be involved in something bigger than myself,’” said Trick “That’s a legacy of MAHS, we reach out to younger kids providing opportunities,” said Trick.
Trick said these opportunities are offered through the many different clubs and activities the high school has, so that “everyone has a home in MAHS.”
Trick said she enjoys teaching Journalism because it is a “class students actually want to take, their enthusiasm can be contagious.”
Being the Journalism teacher, Trick often stays connected with old students. “I’ve been to many showers, weddings, baby showers and graduation parties of former staffers and it makes me so proud and happy to be a part of their lives,” said Trick.
Cienna Twigg, a senior member of Journalism, helped with the glowstick station at the dance.
“My favorite thing about the Daddy Daughter Dance is watching the girls all feel like princesses, I just love seeing all of their smiles!” said Twigg.
The dance is not only a tradition for the dads and daughters. Journalism staff members always help with set-up, the night of the dance, and tear-down. For the seniors, it was their last dance.
“I was definitely sad it was the last Daddy Daughter Dance I would be helping with because I always love watching the little girls have fun with their dads,” said Twigg.
Twigg has been a part of Journalism for the last two years. Her favorite thing about journalism is “getting to collaborate with Mrs. Trick on fun broadcast ideas.”
When it hosted the first dance, the staff only had a month to put it together. Now, Trick begins her 3-page long-to-do list in October. This year, $2,358 was raised.
“The dance was a success and I am thankful to the community for supporting us year after year,” said Trick.
Dietrich has been a Journalism member for three years. “What I like about Journalism is the fact that I get to combine my writing, music, and tech skills all into one to make something that people end up reading and hopefully enjoying,” Dietrich said.
Over the years, Journalism has “changed drastically” and “there’s always something new,” according to Trick.
“It’s evolved and its reflection of the time is wonderful,” she said. When Trick first began, she said staffers were printing out the paper and gluing their stories to spreadsheets to be sent to the printing press. Eventually they moved on to a digital spreadsheet. Now, the staff is online and building the broadcast program.
When Trick was in college, she said she did not see herself as a Journalism teacher in her future. After encouragement by her principal and several other teachers, including Mr. Deacon, her chemistry teacher, Trick decided to go into teaching.
The path to becoming a teacher “was a long windy road but I was blessed by it,” said Trick. A significant part about being the Journalism teacher is the Daddy Daughter dance fundraiser. Ten years ago, Trick was given the idea by Mrs. Alissa Martin, English teacher here at MAHS, and has been doing it ever since.
“The dance was a success and I am thankful to the community for supporting us year after year,” said Trick.
Featured photo (at top): Nathan Trick dances with his daughter third-grade Lyter student Emma Trick. Emma has been attending the Daughter Dance her entire life becuae her mom, Arrowhead adviser Mrs. Sandra Trick, is in charge of planning hosting the dance.
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