Rising in Style
Graduating Middle Schoolers Get the Royal Treatment
BY SOPHIA SOLTES
PHOTOS COURTESY ALI KEYS, LISA MARINKOVICH AND BY DINAH SATTERWHITE
For many, graduating the 8th grade is little more than a box to check on the way to high school.
Students at Woodward Middle School, however, mark the milestone in a more memorable way. For more than 65 years, 8th graders completing their middle school careers have gathered to celebrate their achievements at the 8th Grade Banquet—an event that has evolved over time from a modest spaghetti dinner to an all-out extravaganza.
“Every time that you bring the 8th Grade Banquet up to anyone who’s experienced it themselves, it instantly brings a smile to their face,” said parent volunteer Ali Keys, who is co-chairing the 2025 Banquet alongside fellow volunteer Renee Fitzgerald.
The unique Bainbridge tradition is far from your typical middle school dance. “The goal is really to have it look nothing like the school looks on a normal day,” said Keys. With floor-to-ceiling decorations in the Woodward cafeteria, gymnasium and other areas of the school, all carefully crafted to align with the chosen —and completely classified— theme of the year, the 8th Grade Banquet transports rising high schoolers far away from the familiar hallways that they’ve walked over the last two years.
“I think it’s a really magical time to do this one big last celebration with everybody together,” said Keys. For those who attended Woodward, the sensation of awe felt at the 8th Grade Banquet is unforgettable. “I’ve been to lots of dances in high school
and college, but the 8th Grade Banquet is the only dance where I remember exactly what I wore,” said Catie Gillet, Class of 2006. “Twenty-two years later and I can still remember how important this very first dance was to me.”
The banquet, with its elaborate decorations, dancing, food and games, wasn’t always the grand affair it is today. “It actually started as a parent-run spaghetti dinner,” said Keys. “When the middle school was still in Commodore, parents would come and serve the kids spaghetti and have a big, family-style meal as their banquet.” Over the years, even as the event has grown ever grander, it has rested upon the same foundation: the unwavering support of parent volunteers.
“Now, with all of the parent involvement, there are so many hours of volunteer time that make this crazy transformation,” said Keys, “A lot of the extravagance comes from the parent volunteers.” Every year, it takes hundreds of volunteer hours to set up the banquet, with the work beginning months before the event at the end of the school year. This year is no different, with Keys, Fitzgerald and other parent volunteers already deep into the planning. “We’re kind of the people who are connecting the dots behind the scenes to make sure that the date works OK,” Keys explained, adding that she and Fitzgerald are responsible for coordinating food, ticket sales and DJs, among other items on their long to-do list.
Most important on their agenda, though, is curating the best experience possible for the graduating 8th graders. “One of my favorite parts of the Banquet is how much people are willing to come together to make this such a special night,” said Keys. “And, you know, it’s inclusive to all the kids.” With a variety of activities, including the popular casino room, she said that there is something there for every student to enjoy. Parent volunteer Tanya Black agreed with the sentiment. “Through imagination, creativity and hard work, it becomes a completely different place where all are included. What a great message for a kid to see and feel.”
“I remember it more than my prom,” Keys reflected of her own 8th Grade Banquet in 2004, which was “Feeling Groovy” themed. “I’m so excited to see the kids’ faces.”
This year’s annual 8th Grade Banquet will be held on May 31, tickets were to go on sale in January for $85 each. However, no child will be turned away, as the Woodward counseling department will make sure that everyone who wants to attend will have the opportunity.
>> For information on how to donate or volunteer, visit bainbridgeptos.org/event/2025-eighth-grade-banquet/
