Excitement Surrounds Prom 2018: “Written in the Stars”

Excitement is in the air this week as juniors and seniors look forward to the always anticipated Prom that will take place Friday night.

The theme for Prom this year is “Written in the Stars” and it will take place downtown at the Bradley Pavilion inside the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, a theme and venue combination that the juniors who planned Prom thought would fit nicely together.

“We chose the theme because it was simple but also cute and classy with the Marcus Center being our venue. It was also easy to do decorations that would work for it and we could take it in so many different directions,” junior Student Council member Abby Amidzich said.  “I think students will like it because of the tie to Milwaukee in our posters and advertisements and hopefully they will appreciate the center pieces that look like stars.  We chose the venue based on our possible theme options and also due to the fact that we wanted it to be very different from last year’s Prom. We also liked the areas we were allowed to go outside and hang out in.”

Student Council expects a significant turn out for the always anticipated event.

“There are about 300 students attending Prom this year. That is almost exactly as many students as have attended in the past three years,” Student Council adviser Zachary Geiger said.

Prior to the dance, students, staff, family, and friends are invited to the Grand March, which will take place in the gym from 5:30 to 6:15.  Couples choosing to participate in the Grand March should arrive by 5:10 and will have their names announced as they walk through a backdrop. The Prom Court will also be presented and the King and Queen will be announced.

Students must arrive at the Marcus Center by 7:30, and dinner will be served 7:45, with dessert at 8:30.

This year, dinner will slightly different than it has been in the past, one of the main changes being that it will be an all-you-can-eat buffet.

“It consists of seasonal fresh fruit, creamy pasta salad with penne rigate with fresh veggies, southwest pepper jack mac n cheese with bacon, rosemary pesto roasted potatoes, haricot verts (green beans) with Wisconsin butter, southern fried chicken breast and tenderloin tips merlot-braised with mushrooms,” Geiger said.

Student Council made sure to keep students who are fasting in mind when planning dinner.

“Something that we did change was pushing dinner a little farther back to accommodate for people fasting,” Amidzich said.

Dancing will take place from 8:30 to 11 p.m.

Everyone attending Prom is excited for the event, especially the juniors for whom this is their first Prom.

“I am looking forward to Prom because I feel like it’s a great opportunity to make new friends, and I also love having an excuse to dress up!” junior Gianna Rupnick said.

Junior Anya Nakonechna is excited for many of the same reasons as Rupnick.

“I am so so excited! You can not imagine! I am mostly pumped about getting ready and taking pictures. These beautiful, fun events don’t happen to me often and I just want it to be a magical night with my friends that will literally become Written in the Stars,” she said.

Dressing up is a highlight of the night for many girls.

“I’m really looking forward to dancing with all of my friends and getting dressed up,” junior Anna Turdo said.

Some students are looking forward to the night for other reasons.

“I am most looking forward to talking to the chaperones that were once my 7th-grade teachers,” senior Jack McGee, who is going with senior Cassidy Sanchez, said.

Like Sanchez and McGee, most couples attending Prom have a cute story about their promposal.

“He asked me with a poster asking me to choose him for Prom on college decision day in which we both chose Madison,” Sanchez said.

Nakonechna, who was asked by junior Jonathan Paulick, was thrilled when she was asked.

“I am going with Johnathan Paulick. He asked me in Art Club when I was doodling on the whiteboard. I turn around and he’s holding a bouquet of my favorite flowers- daisies, and a bag of clementines,which are out of season, but I love clementines so much!” she said.

After the dance ends at 11, students are encouraged to attend Post Prom, an alcohol free event, which will be held at Stonefire Pizza in New Berlin.  All students who attend Post Prom receive a $10 game card, access to mini bowling, a rock wall, bumper cars, a movie, and participation in a ninja course with a completed online waiver.  Students will also be eligible to enter raffles for blockbuster prizes including a Smart TV, wireless Beats, free parking at GHS, and various gift cards. The event lasts until 2 a.m. and students are required to stay the entire time.

Those students planning to attend Post Prom are looking forward to a fun night.

“I am going because the venue is a very cool place and it will have a lot to do there,” junior Margaret Shaughnessy said.

Junior Yvett Sanchez agrees and is excited about the various raffle prizes that will be given away.

“I am going to Post Prom because it will be fun and I like winning prizes,” she said.

Although there are many students excited for Post Prom, many others have decided not to attend since they would not be allowed to leave.

“I am not going to Post Prom because I would not want to stay the whole time, but I understand that you can’t leave for safety purposes,” Sanchez said.