Monday, June 23, 2025
Students at Ogden Elementary laced up their sneakers and kicked it after school with their moms at the school’s first ever Mother-Son Sneaker Ball.
Organized by the Ogden Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, the dance invited mothers and sons to dress up in their best sneakers and wear sports jerseys or team gear.
The school has hosted many similar events in the past, such as their annual father-daughter dance, which took place in February.
PTA Co-President Kristina Aronshtein, said that they wanted to host an event geared towards the boys of Ogden, and figured this would be the perfect theme.
“We wanted something fun for the boys and their moms,” Aronshtein said. “All boys like to wear sneakers, so we decided to do a dress up sneaker dance.”
Plenty of those sneakers took to the dance floor at the event on May 6, hoofing it across the gymnasium floor, including a special slow dance with their moms to end the night.
Yemit Harel, a district parent, said she has attended many PTA events before and said they are a great way for students to get out of the house and reconnect with classmates.
“I think it is important to have events so the kids can play together outside of the school learning and it’s important to meet the other parents and the teachers,” Harel said. “They get out of their computers and their PlayStations and they socialize, it’s important especially these days, they’re always on their computers.”
Students partied the night away to some of their favorite hits, showing off their best moves during games and challenges that offered prizes, such as gold chains, glow sticks.
The event also featured a red carpet for students and parents to walk in on, a photo booth with decorations and a separate room with refreshments for both students and parents to take a break and connect.
Fifth-grader Colin Mohamed said that it was “pretty cool” to get to see all of his classmates after school hours. He joked that his favorite part of the evening was the snacks.
The money raised benefits the PTA fund, which supports other school events.
PTA Co-President Lena Fielding said this was the first post-pandemic mother-son event at Ogden. She said it was an enjoyable way for parents and students to get together outside of the classroom.
“It’s just an important way for the parents, I think, to get involved and see their kids having fun at school,” Fielding said. “Seeing them with their friends, and also help out and see the kids help and they also have a good time together.”
