Dancers give parents a break

For parents who need to get holiday shopping done without the children or who are just looking to enjoy a quiet evening, dancers from Evans High School are offering to baby-sit.

The Evans High School Dance Team is holding Parents' Night Out from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday in the school commons area at 4115 Cox Road in Evans.

"We were just brainstorming, trying to think of things that would be fun, helpful to others in the community and also raise money for competitions," said Jackie Messer, a dance team sponsor. "As a sponsor and a parent, we're looking a lot of times for things for our kids to do.

"Not just to leave them at home with a sitter, but something fun that also will give the parents time by themselves, which is something not many of us have. Especially here at Christmastime, when you've got all the shopping and the wrapping and things like that."

The eight-member dance team, along with Messer and parent chaperones, have plenty of activities planned for the evening, such as crafts, Christmas movies and games. The school gym will be open for sporting activities.

Messer said children of any age, so long as they are walking, are welcome. The cost is $5 per hour per child and $2.50 per hour for each additional child from the same family.

Reservations for Parents' Night Out are requested, but not required, and can be made by contacting Messer at (706) 863-1198, ext. 236, or jackie.messer@ccboe.net.

Proceeds from the event will go toward paying the cost of dance-team competitions. Messer said the team normally performs at pep rallies and during halftime of some of the boys varsity basketball games.

In the 2005-06 school year, Messer said, the team attended two competitions - one at the University of Georgia in Athens and another at Walt Disney World in Florida.

"Last year, it was about $5,700 for just the Florida trip," Messer said.

The team plans to attend two competitions this year in Conyers, Ga., and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The team holds other fundraisers regularly, such as car washes and DVD nights.

Messer said the team will hold its annual dance clinic Jan. 13 for girls age 9-12. The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and all who attend learn a dance and return that evening to perform with the dance team at a basketball game. The cost is $20 and includes a T-shirt and snack.

For more information, contact Messer.