• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

McNeal Elementary goes Hawaiian style

Fall dance takes on luau theme.


  • By Pam Eubanks
  • | 10:27 p.m. November 2, 2018
  • East County
  • News
  • Share

Dressed in a green grass skirt and layers of leis, 6-year-old Nahla Vlasak put her hands in the air and did a hula dance.

It wasn't Hawaiian music playing, but it didn't matter. Nahla was excited about Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School's luau-themed fall dance Nov. 2. She learned the hula because she and her family plan to go to Hawaii in 2019.

"We're going next year for our 20th wedding anniversary," Nahla's mother, Jackie, said. Nahla will join her parents, Jackie and Dion, and siblings, Sophia, Halley and Matt. 

Until then, she'll enjoy wearing the leis and grass skirt they bought for the dance.

Dozens of families enjoyed snacks, dancing, the limbo and socializing in the school's cafeteria.

Kindergartners Riley Patterson and Molly Burgess like to dance.
Kindergartners Riley Patterson and Molly Burgess like to dance.
Sara Talamas and Ella Fuschetto, both 6, are in first grade.
Sara Talamas and Ella Fuschetto, both 6, are in first grade.
Six-year-old Kylee Owens, pictured with her mother, Stephanie Owens, liked doing the limbo.
Six-year-old Kylee Owens, pictured with her mother, Stephanie Owens, liked doing the limbo.
Katie Wehmeyer, 7, practices the hula hoop at home. She learned how to do it at school.
Katie Wehmeyer, 7, practices the hula hoop at home. She learned how to do it at school.
Nahla Vlasak knows how to hula dance.
Nahla Vlasak knows how to hula dance.
Second-grader Ella Dyer dances to
Second-grader Ella Dyer dances to "Watch Me."
Francesca Gnad and Courtney Flesche played at Miss Manatee Softball together.
Francesca Gnad and Courtney Flesche played at Miss Manatee Softball together.
Caroline Bradley, 7, likes to dance with her hula hoop in hand.
Caroline Bradley, 7, likes to dance with her hula hoop in hand.
Jude Ardanas hangs out with friend, Lukas Nantes and Lukas' brother, Sebastian Nantes.
Jude Ardanas hangs out with friend, Lukas Nantes and Lukas' brother, Sebastian Nantes.
Third-grader Charlie Lloyd, 8, dances the
Third-grader Charlie Lloyd, 8, dances the "Chicken Dance."
Fifth-graders Mia McGuire and Isabelle Jacobson dance to the
Fifth-graders Mia McGuire and Isabelle Jacobson dance to the "Chicken Dance." They have been friends since second grade.

 

Latest News

Sarasota Chief Transportation Planner Corinne Arriaga makes opening remarks at the May 21 Main Street complete street public meeting.
  • May 27, 2026
Main Street design meeting gets off to a rough start
The boathouse and events center planned for Nathan Benderson Park is expected to cost between $60 million and $70 million.
  • May 27, 2026
Planned events Center and boathouse at Benderson Park gets $10 million boost
New College was founded in 1960.
  • May 27, 2026
Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College
Sarasota man charged with sexual battery of a minor
  • May 27, 2026
Sarasota man charged with sexual battery of a minor

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in News

The boathouse and events center planned for Nathan Benderson Park is expected to cost between $60 million and $70 million.
  • May 27, 2026
Planned events Center and boathouse at Benderson Park gets $10 million boost
Though Florida Power & Light employs a variety of advanced technology to avoid power failures, often the basic work of tree trimming goes a long way toward heading off trouble.
  • May 24, 2026
With our deep dependence on power, FPL gears up to keep the lights on
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton
Lakewood Ranch's Bruce Stamm says residents in District 1 are being denied due process because of a lack of representation.
  • May 22, 2026
Felts' Manatee County Commission seat remains empty
The 7-Eleven planned for 44th Avenue West and White Eagle Boulevard will look similar to the 7-Eleven on University Parkway near Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
  • May 21, 2026
7-Eleven planned for Lakewood Ranch fuels outrage
A new fire pit area awaits campers, along with the playground that was moved from Camp Flying Eagle, where camps used to be held.
  • May 21, 2026
Dream Oaks Camp opens near Rye Preserve just in time for summer

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free