2021 Prom Planning Update

By: Charli Mann

I had the opportunity to talk with Shelly Koenig one of the prom board members earlier this week. We discussed how planning prom was this year when having to follow all of the COVID regulations and guidelines. I asked her if it was hard planning prom with the Covid regulations and guidelines, and if it was, what was the hardest part. She said “Planning prom this year was different, that is for sure. We have a lot of regulations and recommendations to follow that were passed down to us from MDE and MDH. The hardest part for us, I believe, is trying to make this as safe as possible and still have prom feel as normal as possible.”

• In past years, we have started planning and preparing for prom in September, so this year we have definitely been on a time crunch along with trying to navigate all the regulations.
  
• We realize this is not going to be the prom you have all dreamed of, but we are going to do our best to make it one to remember.
  

We also talked about when and where prom was and what post prom activities were. This year's post prom has been shortened due to Covid recommendations. Post prom will consist of the illusionist show and prize drawings. We foresee post prom ending around 1:00 AM. This year's prom activities will all be located in the Arena. 

• Prom Pictures by Capture Your Moment Photography 2:00 PM - 6:00PM *Please sign up in your pods.
  
• Grand March 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
  
• Prom 8:30 P.M. - 11:30 P.M.
  
• Post Prom 11:30 P.M. - 1:00 A.M.
  

Is the Grand March open to everyone?

• Grand March will not be open to the public. 
  
• Each prom attendee will receive 2 grand march spectator tickets.
  
• Grand March will be live streamed by KSDM Radio, so those not able to attend will be able to still watch it virtually.
  

We also talked about how it felt to be someone on the prom committee that had to help plan prom this year. Shelly said “Prom is always an exciting event to plan! This is now my fourth prom that I have helped with, and it definitely has been both one of the most stressful and rewarding proms to plan. We have a great group of senior and junior parents that have stepped up to help with the planning of prom. There are also a few students that have helped in the planning, one of them being the student representative, Olivia McBride, which is very helpful, as we really value student input. After we planned and put in countless hours on last year's prom that didn't happen, we knew it was something we wanted to make happen this year.” She also added some extra information that she thought was helpful and that us students, parents and chaperones will be following at prom this year. All attendees, chaperones, volunteers, and spectators will be required to wear a mask.

• Spectators will be asked to leave after the grand march is over and no interaction will be allowed inside the arena.
  
• Attendees will sign up for prom in pods of six or less and those pods will be spaced six feet away from other pods for the entire evening. 
  
• Dancing is allowed and attendees may dance with those in their pods.
  
• Pod dance areas will be taped off on the arena floor and each pod will have an assigned table location.
  
• Attendees will only be allowed to eat at tables in designated areas. They will not be allowed to walk around with food or drink. 
  
• Food will be served out of the Arena Concession area and all food will either be individually wrapped or individually plated. Food handlers will wear gloves.
  
• All food consumption will end at 11:00 PM.