Early arriving Salisbury Middle School students shivered in the evening chill as they waited for the winter semiformal dance to begin Feb. 21. Others stayed warm waiting with their parents in the line of SUVs and cars in a curbside convoy of headlights and exhaust smoke.

When the staff opened the doors and let students in, they were welcomed with festive balloons, confetti and dimmed lights.

Whether they were dancing to the music, queued up to the photo booth or giggling in scattered groups, they enjoyed a mid-winter dance at the school’s cafeteria.

Teachers and other staff supervised the energetic middle schoolers as they danced the evening away. The girls wore their finest party dresses and the boys displayed an array of casual looks in slacks and dress shirts with long neckties.

Soft drinks, pizza and other snacks disappeared steadily.