GTHS Up & Coming Dance Channels Disney–Pixar’s “Up”School’s First Senior Class Participates in Festivities

Before the festivities began at 7:30 p.m., a long line of enthusiastic students had already formed outside the school gates on Saturday night, Oct. 12, for Grand Terrace High School’s (GTHS) Up & Coming Dance. With the high school’s first senior class set to graduate this school year, Up & Coming event planners decided to base the theme of the dance on Disney and Pixar’s animated movie “Up.” The GTHS Associated Student Body presented its theme to Preferred Mobile Music & Promotion Events USA, Inc., a production company that plans events for middle and high school events around California. PMMnP provided the music, lights, decorations and setup for the evening. “I like how Grand Terrace goes big,” said biology teacher and chaperon Marcos Ruiz. The night’s activities were coordinated by Activities Director Leilani Bautista and included a photo booth, a gamer trailer, and an outdoor dance floor overhung with colorful balloons. A fog machine helped set the mood, simulating the clouds in the popular movie, which played on two large screens near the stage. Math teacher Matt Johnson also chaperoned the dance and said that what he likes most about teaching at the new high school is its environment. He emphasized the school’s motto, “Generosity, Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Teamwork” or G.R.E.A.T. “It’s our theme that we want to accomplish, so we’re trying to get [students] really involved with the school spirit, to make sure that they’re gonna be great and graduate,” he said. “I love when the students start coming in through that door and they see it and they’re just amazed because it’s usually only a few times in their lifetime that they get to experience something like that,” said Amy Moody, event coordinator for PMMnP. “So to have them see that ‘wow factor’ is what I’m always looking for.” Moody recalled her own homecoming dance very well. “I remember even the music that was played, which was really, really important,” she said. “We try to bring that whole experience to the kids so it’s something they will always take with them when they leave high school.” Stephanie Vo was crowned the Up & Coming Dance’s Senior Queen. “It’s really shocking,” she said. “I didn’t expect it all and it’s really an honor.” Vo plays varsity volleyball and is involved in many clubs and activities at school. She plans to major in biology in college. “What’s great about starting a brand new high school is that we’re setting the precedents for years to come,” said Ruiz. “We can set the standard high and make sure that the students are following our G.R.E.A.T. motto, and just doing everything in a classy, respectful way. We’re setting a tone for generations in future students to come. That’s what’s really good about starting a brand new school: you start new traditions.”