LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lights, music and dancing. That’s what 150 middle schoolers with Jefferson County Public Schools experienced at the 2nd annual “MSD Spring Fling.” 

Cody is a sixth grader, and he was excited about the fling, saying, “Dancing, photo booth, take a picture, food everything.”  

Emily Gelnett has been a teacher at Westport Middle School’s Moderately to Severe Disability program for four years. She says her students have been looking forward to putting back on their dancing shoes after attending last year.

“Our kids are just like everyone else. They love to have fun and they love to be a part of the community interacting with their peers,” Gelnett said.

The highly anticipated dance wasn’t a sure thing this year. Gelnett said the school that hosted the dance last year wasn’t planning on hosting again—meaning her students would miss out on an experience many middle schoolers have. 

So, she took matters into her own hands.

“We decided that it was a very important event to us and that we wanted to make it happen for all of the MSD kids at JCPS. We just had so much fun last year,” she said.

Students from 13 different JCPS middle schools attended. 

Gelnett added, “This dance gives them an opportunity to be with people who are like them, you know, their peers who are just like them, but also the peer to come into the classroom and work with our kids, you know, day in and day out and build those friendships.”

“I feel like my heart’s happy,” said eight-grader, Judah.

Gelnett saiud Westport Middle School plans to host the event in the future to try to avoid any more of this year’s intrigue. 

MSD students are part of the Exceptional Child Education program, which provides students special education and individual education programs.