More than 300 students and nearly 150 more administrators, parents and teachers filled the Belleville High School gymnasium last Wednesday night for the first-ever combined dance between Schools No. 4 and 10.

The initial plan was to hold the dance inside School No. 10's gymnasium but, as Home and School Association President Jeanne Lombardi explained, “It got so big we couldn't have it at School 10 anymore. We called the Board of Education, Mr. (Russ) Pagano (BHS' principal), the superintendent (Joseph Picardo) to see if we could hold it here.”

The end result were children ranging from kindergarten through sixth grade dancing across the BHS basketball court – this after initially being awestruck by the gymnasium's size. They also competed in dance contests before dining on pizza as Board of Education President Pete Zangari, BOE trustees Bill Freda and John Rivera, BHS Athletic Director Tom D'Elia, Second Ward Councilman Steve Rovell and Third Ward Councilman Vincent Cozzarelli showed their support.

Meanwhile, there were raffles for gift cards donated by Rovell – whose wife, Susan, is the principal of School No. 10 – and Cozzarelli. Also, Sansone Auto Mall of Avenel donated two ski lift tickets to Vernon's Mountain Creek.

In addition, First Ward Municipal Council candidate Joseph Coviello donated $400 to help defray the event's cost.

“This was just great,” School No. 4 Home and School President Marleni Muniz said. “The kids were just elated.”