Every aspect of school is different this year. For one, this entire year is online, with no in-person classes being held at Loy Norrix. Another deviation from the norm will be prom. This year, prom will be held outside in the Loy Norrix parking lot with many changes.
Prom will take place on Saturday, May 22 from 7-9 p.m. If the forecast shows rain for that day, the date will be changed to May 21, the Friday before. Sveri May, teacher and advisor for class of 2021, was able to share information about the event. According to May, she and the 2021 executive board have worked hard to give seniors a safe and fun prom.
For safety reasons, along with other factors, this will be a senior-only prom. According to May, “This is a sad decision because I have fought for many years for junior and senior prom.” Only seniors will be able to purchase tickets, but they can invite whoever they want.
Soon prom tickets will be available to purchase via RevTrack. Regular prom tickets will be $25 and spots closer to the DJ will be $35. Tickets will be purchased like seats for a concert. Each ticket will be for a car, each car can have up to four people in it, a “prom pod.”
When students buy a ticket they will be able to choose their location and will have to sign a form confirming that their parent or guardian is all right with them sharing a car with those four other people. There will be 105 spots available.
When it comes time for prom, students will load into cars and be directed to their designated prom pods. The executive board has planned many fun activities for the dance. One is a contest on how well your pod is decorated, with the categories being most elegant, funniest, most school spirit and spring. There will also be a prom promenade where chaperones will take a few pods to walk along in a parade and get their photo taken at the end at the prom picture place.
Health and safety were big influences when planning the 2021 prom. Each pod will be socially distant, and all staff will be wearing masks. According to Principal Aguinaga, Prom on the Pavement will follow the MDHHS guidance that masks be worn even outside when social distancing cannot be guaranteed. Students will be allowed to take their masks off for eating and drinking. Students are required to stay in their pod and are not allowed to wander.
The bathrooms, Port-a-Jons, are going to be wiped down regularly. The food provided will be snack bags and water. May explained that they are committed to following safety guidelines to prevent the prom from being a spreader event.
Each pod is allowed to bring refreshments and decorations. May recommends that students bring “chairs or something to sit on.” The parking lot will be decorated, even the lamp posts. With an unprecedented year, May and the 2021 executive board have worked hard to keep this year’s prom a safe and fun one.