It’s no wonder people like Sheri LaFazia can’t wait for next year’s annual Thornton Elementary School Dance.

“We had a night filled with fun and laughs,” said LaFazia, an active member of Thornton’s revived Parent-Teacher Organization. “We had raffles for all kinds of prizes, including four bicycles, and perhaps the best part was everyone – even the children – loved getting all dressed up to go out to dinner.”

After all, as the promotional poster read: “Panda goes formal – wear your formal attire!”

“The children love this night,” Louise Denham, the school’s principal, said while posing for pictures with dozens of students.

Robert LaFazia, a member of the Johnston School Committee, made the night special for his son Derek LaFazia and grandson Derek LaFazia Jr., who came dressed in matching Panda foot print ties.

“We’re the ‘Panda pack,’” he said. “That’s our school mascot … there’s a lot of good stuff going on at our school.”

The PTO, which has held other successful family-oriented events since school opened in September, enlisted the disc jockey services of Vito “Vito G” Giorgio for the gathering at West Valley Inn’s Triple Crown Room last Friday night.

The night featured West Valley Inn’s famed macaroni and meatball dinner, and the PTO had all kinds of prizes up for grabs in its 35-item raffle.

In addition to two bicycles Robert LaFazia donated, School Committee chair Janice Mele also donated two bicycles, while Town Hall Lanes, Launch Trampoline Park, and This Guy’s Pizza were among the night’s special donors.

“Our PTO provided a boys’ and girls’ scooter along with multiple summer-themed baskets,” Sheri LaFazia noted. “We had a slip-and-slide and water toys, too … And one lucky family went home with $300 from the 50/50 raffle.”