Proms will take on a different look for All-Kiski Valley High Schools this spring as the pandemic continues to complicate plans for most group meetings.
But that doesn’t matter to students who are just glad that the prom is still on.
“Overall, I’m very happy that we have one this year. It was dubious for a while, ”said Miranda Weightman, junior of the Kiski Area School District.
While Weightman will be attending a prom this spring, unlike last year, the event will be far from traditional. Kiski Area is one of several Valley districts that chose not to sanction or sponsor a prom this year.
Instead, parents come to these districts to organize the events.
Parent-run proms
Allegheny Township’s Gina Bollinger, who has a senior in the Kiski area, volunteered to organize the district’s unofficial prom. Scheduled for June 4th, it will take place one day after the start of the Kiski Area at Lenape Heights Golf Club in Manor.
Bollinger and about five other parents take care of the preparation of the prom together with students from the senior class committee.
“We limit the event to 375 students. These kids have missed every ounce of senior opportunities this year and deserve a regular prom, ”Bollinger said, noting that about 450 students normally attend the Kiski Area prom.
Bollinger said that students attending a prom will be required to sign a disclaimer.
“We parents said we needed this,” said Bollinger. “It is a goal to hire a security officer for the additional presence of a security officer.”
Bollinger said she also hosted the unofficial Kiski Area homecoming dance last fall, which went without incident.
“So far, there are around 200 students attending (prom), but we still have weeks until the event. It was difficult to keep all students informed, ”Bollinger said, adding that a Facebook page called Kiski Area Class was created from 2021-2022 Prom to share event information.
Freeport Area also has a parent-run prom.
In a previous interview with the Trib, Dan Lucovich, president of the Freeport Area School Board, said he’s fine with parents planning the May 7 prom at the Veltre Wedding and Events Center in Plum.
“We have nothing to do with it, but we are not against it at all,” said Lucovich. “You asked for it, so we don’t mind.”
He said he was confident the students would adhere to covid-19’s safety guidelines.
“The children are all familiar with everything. You know what to do, ”said Lucovich.
Burrell High School also has a parent-led prom. It will take place on the Lingrow Farm in Gilpin with the theme “Enchanted Forest”.
“We do this for all seniors to have fun and lasting memories,” said parent Kathy McLafferty of Lower Burrell. “You missed so much this year. The school did not host any of the senior citizen activities and events that they normally do. “
Lingrow Farm has an outside deck where more students can choose to be outside.
“We want students to feel comfortable,” said McLafferty.
The Burrell Boardwalk and Seniors’ Show will also be held outdoors with a road separating students and parents who want to see the boardwalk, McLafferty said.
Under the pandemic restrictions for the event, students are required to sign a waiver confirming they have no symptoms of Covid-19 and organizers will drop out at around 150.
Not traditional options
Fox Chapel Area High School is hosting a very different prom on May 8, according to district spokeswoman Bonnie Berzonski.
The event takes place outdoors on campus and only seniors are allowed to buy tickets.
“I think the difficult part is that I don’t get a real, traditional prom,” said senior Zane Gavazzi, who has never attended a prom. “I’ll miss going downtown and having dinner.”
Berzonski said any senior can buy a guest ticket that extends to other district students or a date from a different school. The event includes a meal, dance, competitions, and other activities.
Berzonski said plans are moving forward based on covid-19’s current security guidelines, but “may change”.
The Apollo-Ridge School District prom on May 28th will be Hawaiian-themed Luau. The district will spice up some tennis courts for a spacious event with tropical flair and music, said Emily Mitchell, study support teacher and prom sponsor. In case of rain, the celebrations will be moved to high school, where there is a large space to socially distance students, she said.
“I think prom is important to students because it’s a night we can all relax and have fun with our friends,” said Katherine Myers of North Apollo, junior class secretary and prom committee secretary. Prom “is a very nice reward after a long year of hard work. So much fun getting dressed to eat and dance, and everyone feels like the star of their own show. “
Joe Fishell, director of Plum High School, said guests from other districts will be welcomed to the June 17 event. The district has selected the Omni William Penn Hotel as its venue and all CDC guidelines are being followed.
Changed plans
The Riverview School District halves its prom time, with a two-hour dinner replacing the traditional four-hour dance.
The event on May 7th at Oakmont Country Club is themed “Enchanted Forest” – the same theme as last year’s canceled event.
The parents of Beth Shoop, a senior at Riverview, helped reserve the venue. They are members of the country club.
The club staff serve the food to minimize student walking around, and the number of participants per table is limited to six instead of the usual 12.
“We took everything we prepared for last prom and now adjusted to our situation,” said Jake Killmeyer, a senior class officer. “We still have the same supplies, the same decorations. It’s about making it safer. “
Shayle Prorok, a prom counselor and teacher at Leechburg Area High School, said many traditional activities were not taking place at this year’s May 8 prom at the Futules Harmul House in Cheswick. There will be no photo booth or hypnotist entertainment as organizers want to avoid situations where students can crowd together, share props, or take off their masks.
Slow dancing is also a no-go and is being replaced by socially distant dancing. The usual big march, during which the students are officially announced to the public, is broadcast live.
“I hope that although it will look different, the children will still have fun because they had nothing when there was nothing last year,” said Prorok.
Highlands High School is holding a senior-only prom on May 15 at the Syria Shriners Center in Harmar. Jennifer Goldberg, Highlands communications coordinator, said final details are still being worked out.
Goldberg said no guests are allowed and the evening will include dinner, dancing, and activities. Social distancing and masks are required as always.
“This year was crazy. I wasn’t expecting it and just the fact that we have something is amazing. I’m going to take whatever I can get at this point, ”said Austin Burchell, senior at Highlands.
At Springdale Jr.-Sr. Headmaster Andy Leviski said he felt “absolutely fantastic” that the students were going to have a prom.
The four-hour prom will take place on May 23rd aboard the Gateway Clipper.
“Last year was tough,” said Leviski. “Our kids put a lot of time and effort into planning a prom that couldn’t go and when things open up again it’s absolutely what they deserve to be able to do for our kids.”
Live music has been scrapped, but recorded music will be played and the dining tables will be six feet apart, and Leviski said the main focus of the evening will be giving students a sense of normalcy.
I hope it’s like the proms we were always used to. I will hope for that, ”said Leviski.
Deer Lakes High School prom goers take a stroll on the wild side and celebrate their prom on May 20th at the Pittsburgh Zoo and the outdoor PPG Aquarium.
Organizer Mary DeLuca said that instead of dancing slowly, students can expect a buffet dinner, virtual reality machine, cartoonist, DJ, and line dance during the event.
Students can wander zoo trails from an outdoor garden tent.
“It was challenging to put together an event that would meet student expectations and protect them,” said DeLuca.
The authors Mary Ann Thomas, Mike DiVittorio, Teghan Simonton, Paul Guggenheimer, Tawnya Panizzi, Brian Rittmeyer and Julia Felton contributed.
Joyce Hanz is a contributor to Tribune Review. You can contact Joyce at 724-226-7725, jhanz@triblive.com, or on Twitter.