Lynbrook South Middle School brought style, confidence and community spirit to the runway on May 1, hosting its first-ever fashion show, “Owls In Style,” at Lynbrook High School.
The event proved to be both a successful fundraiser and a meaningful experience for students. Its proceeds will support school field trips and assemblies.
The idea for the show was a simple one, but it grew quickly.
“At our first PTA meeting of the year, when we were talking about fundraising,” Gina Lee, a PTA member and the event chair, wrote in an email, “I mentioned how a fashion show could be a really great way to raise money for the school, but also bring in the community and local businesses and get the kids involved. The next thing I knew, they were like, ‘It’s approved and you’re running it.’”
Lee worked with PTA Co-presidents Olya Chernomaz and Lisa Lanzello, and with support from local businesses, retail partners and families, the show featured student models and musical performances, with students working behind the scenes as well.
“This was our first fashion show, so it was a huge undertaking and a real learning experience,” Lee wrote. “But the way our community and local businesses showed up was beyond anything we imagined.”
What made the night especially meaningful, organizers said, was the impact it made on students.
“Middle school can be a tough time, and many of them were hesitant at first,” Lee wrote. “But one by one, they found the confidence to model, perform and even design. Seeing them step onto the runway and shine the way they did was unforgettable.”
Students were involved in nearly every aspect of the show, from modeling outfits provided by local retailers to helping backstage.
“The kids were eager to help, whether they were modeling, singing, helping set up, or supporting behind the scenes with outfit changes,” Chernomaz wrote in an email.
For students, the experience offered both excitement and a boost in confidence. “It was fun walking down the runway,” Ella Lee, a sixth-grade model, and Gina’s daughter, wrote. “It could give people confidence because they walked down by themselves and everyone was cheering them on.”
Others said that the fast-paced nature of the show added to the experience. “You had to move really fast, but it was really fun,” JamieGrace Tomao, a sixth-grade model, wrote. “If it was slower, it would not be as fun.”
Even students working behind the scenes played a key role in making the event run smoothly. “It was really fun even though it was stressful, because people had to get ready really fast,” Lauren Franz, a sixth-grade backstage helper, wrote.
The excitement extended beyond students to teachers as well. Sixth-grade English teacher Jamy O’Rourke, who has worked at South Middle School for 16 years, joined the show as a model after volunteering to help.
“When Mrs. Lee asked if we wanted to model, we thought it would be fun,” O’Rourke wrote. “Friday night was a great success. The students who modeled and helped backstage were all very excited to be there, and the parents and guests were enthusiastic and entertained.”
For many, the night was less about fashion than about self-expression and community connection.
“From a PTA standpoint, this was honestly the first time we really saw the community and local businesses come together in such a big way to support our school,” Lanzello wrote. “One of the best parts of the night was seeing our students — both girls and boys — step out of their comfort zones and walk the runway with so much confidence and personality.”
Organizers say there are already plans for more such events. According to Lee, a second fashion show is already scheduled for Jan. 14, with hopes of expanding the event to include elementary school students, and with incoming sixth-graders walking the runway.
“All of our retail partners already said they will be back next year,” Lee wrote.
With strong turnout, enthusiastic participation and widespread community support, organizers say the inaugural show has already set the stage for an even bigger one next year.
“We’re so proud of them,” Lee wrote, of the students. “We already can’t wait to build on what just became our biggest fundraiser of the year and make it even bigger next year.”
