Additionally, Prom will be held later in the school year (May 19, 2018), and will be for Juniors and Seniors only. Two years ago because of a weather problem on the originally scheduled date, we had to move Prom into May, and we found that the event was more successful at that later time. Again, the decision to change the age range and the date are based on what we believe to be a safe and appropriate framework for the event given the age and maturity of students, the increased size of the Upper School, and other events that fall at the same time of year. We will also have access to a wider range of venues, some of which have been too small to use a prom site. The later date promises the possibility of better weather on an evening when many young drivers are on the road either very late at night or very early in the morning. A date closer to the end of the school year will hopefully promote student responsibility for both their behavior and their academic performance.

 

With Prom now available only to Juniors and Seniors, we will also be eliminating After-Prom. Over the years, attendance at After-Prom has decreased, even when it has been held at different venues or locations. Experience has shown that the older the student, the less likely he or she is to attend After-Prom. Meanwhile, one of our most reliable venues, Dave & Buster’s, is no longer renting out their space for After-Proms, which has forced us to consider more out-of-the-way alternative locations. Finally, it is increasingly difficult to find volunteer parent chaperones for the early-morning hours (usually from 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.).