The Lower School hosted its first Denise Helms’ Dressy Dress Up Day last Friday to honor the longtime Lower School Administrative Assistant who retired at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. Dresses, bow ties and even top hats adorned the Lower School campus.

“Students wore their fanciest with grace and enthusiasm,” said Lower School Principal Jennifer Blount.

In order to properly honor Mrs. Helms, Lower School students, faculty and staff were asked to dress as if they were going to tea with the Queen, their grandparent(s) or a similar elegant person.

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In Kindergarten, students rotated through stations: dance, writing thank you letters and the art of conversation where they learned to ask a question, make eye contact, give an answer and ask another question. During physical education class, students participated in cotillion-like dance classes for each of the grade levels. Led by the P.E. teachers in conjunction with the Lower School dance teacher, the classes were developmentally designed for students to learn how to shake a hand and make eye contact when asking someone to partner in dancing.

Mrs. Helms made a special guest appearance and visited all 18 classrooms and special subjects so she could see the students, thank them and remind them what it means to be a person of great character.

“We created this day to honor the retirement of our dear Denise, who over the course of more than 30 years gave so much to St. Margaret’s Lower School. Denise is well known to be a classy, well dressed and elegant woman. She writes handwritten thank you cards, keeps strict confidence, wears impeccable clothing and jewelry, and is an exemplary role model of tasteful behavior,” said Lower School Assistant Principal Heather Murray.