There are huge periods of growth during a person’s life.

Party lights

Middle school is one of those periods. The kids enter 6th grade physically as an elementary school student and leave 8th grade physically as a high school student.

To grow that much, there has to be a lot of energy available, and today there was an surge of energy.

My daughter’s 6th grade party was this afternoon. The school closed off one hall, opened up two gyms, the commons are, gathered copious quantities of snacks, and turned loose 300 eleven and twelve year olds. And, boy did the kids let loose.

An atomic explosion couldn’t have generated so much energy. There were boys buzzing about and giggling girls galavanting in gaggles. Parents and teachers, although in control, had to stand to the side just to let the kids burst. The lights flashed, the music blared, the balls bounced wildly, cotton candy was consumed and the energy flowed.

Parties like these can’t happen without volunteers. There aren’t enough staff members available to supervise every after-school activity. And there will never be enough staff members to control that much energy. Parent volunteers are a necessary part of school, even if it’s just to let the kids crank it up for a couple hours.

As a volunteer, I’m glad that I could take an hour off work and help make it happen.

And I’m especially (ahem) proud, that my daughter won the whipped cream and gummy bear eating contest.

Chaperoned my daughter’s school party, choosing not to partake of the finer dining delicacies.