Students were greeted by music blasting from the speakers in the quad on Thursday, Oct. 16, following the second-period Great Shakeout earthquake drill.

Fenstermaker said that he and assistant principal Arlie Kearney came up with the event after finding out that social science teacher Marcus Reveles works as a DJ, as well as Coach Jones.

“We had a couple of meetings and hashed out a strategy to showcase both of the guys,” the ASB adviser said. “We just wanted kids to enjoy themselves, and figured, ‘What’s more fun than a dance party?'”

Fenstermaker said he spent about two weeks planning with Kearney before revealing the secret to a few ASB students on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

DROPPING THE BEAT 

During the event, Fenstermaker made announcements with the mic while social science teacher Marcus Reveles and athletic director Paul Jones prepared for the DJ battle.

Students were encouraged to come out and dance once the music started playing, and based on the music they preferred, they went to the side of the DJ playing it.

At the start of the event, ASB students helped to build a crowd by encouraging students to join, and grade levels competed with each other in a dance-off.

“I knew that it’s not a normal thing to get out and dance in the quad at 10 in the morning, so I knew that it would take a little bit of prodding,” said Fenstermaker, who was also encouraging students to join. “I was glad that the people got more comfortable as more people got into it.”

Senior Pierrce Sandle, who is a part of the ASB pep committee, was one of the first to join the dance, said he saw a large number of students in the quad while he was walking back from the break.

“Obviously, I felt a little nervous being one of the first ones out there,” Sandle said. “I was dancing in front of the whole school, not knowing if people were going to come and join, but it was fun once everybody started going.”

MIXTAPES AND THROWBACKS

Some of the DJ song battles featured themes such as “TikTok” or “throwback” until it got to the freestyle round.

The staff members played music such as “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO, “FE!N” by Travis Scott and “Gangnam Style” by PSY.

Senior Laurel Henderson said she wasn’t going to join the dance, but saw her friends and heard music she liked and had to join in.

“My favorite dance was ‘Gangnam Style,'” Henderson said. “I hope the school does more events like this because it really made my day and brought excitement to the quad.”

The event started with around eight students, but by the end of the break, staff and students alike had crowded around to join the dance.

ASB executive treasurer senior Aaron Green said he thinks the event went well and was a nice stress reliever for students.

“It allowed a lot of people who might not usually do that type of thing to join in and have fun,” Green said.

Fenstermaker said this event could happen again in the future after seeing its success.

“We’re always looking to help have a little fun on campus, lighten the mood and give people a chance to cut loose and dance,” the ASB adviser said.

This story was originally published on The Accolade on October 18, 2025.