Last year, high school juniors watched the 2020 senior class end-of-year celebrations being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year they’ve been waiting eagerly to see if their final days of high school will come with a little more normality and solemnity – including prom.
But despite government guidelines on hosting a COVID-19 safety event, some schools are foregoing proms – events known for overcrowded dance floors, jam-packed limos, and lively after parties – and instead replacing them with some sort of “senior” event.
While students are happy that they are about to celebrate – and many others enjoy a graduation ceremony that is a higher priority for them – these senior events are a far cry from a traditional prom.
Albany High School and Troy High School want proms, but the restrictions will make it look very different. Schenectady High School does not have a traditional prom, but instead hosts a senior citizens’ event. Hoosick Falls High School hosts an outdoor picnic for their seniors. Other schools in the capital region have no final plans yet.
Smaller schools like Tech Valley High School, a charter school in Albany, decided to meet their students’ expectations by changing the name from prom to “red carpet event.”
“Students won’t come in with a preconceived notion of what to expect, so students can think outside the box,” said Amy Hawrylchak, the headmistress. “I’m looking forward to COVID-19 times to give you this exciting experience that is only different from what you did last year.”
Ballston Spa High School canceled their venue because capacity restrictions were unsuitable for their senior class, but Headmaster Gianleo Duca remains committed to giving the seniors a celebration. The event takes place in the school parking lot under wedding tents. There will be a DJ and music, some food (but not a full meal), and there probably won’t be a dance floor, Duca said.
“We try to do as many outdoor events as possible for our seniors,” said Duca. “We want to give them an end of the year to remember. It was a difficult year.”
When the students’ masks are on, they can stand up and move around to speak to other students, but they must be 6 feet away from anyone who is not in their capsule. Students will ask who they would like to sit at their table and in their capsule ahead of the event, Duca said.
This “pod” format is displayed on all school proms or senior events. State guidelines prohibit students from congregating unless they are seated at their tables or in certain dance zones where they can only dance with the people in their chosen capsule.
Tech Valley High School seniors Lorelei VanWie-Adair and Antonina Losi look forward to seeing other people outside of their small classes at the event.
“We only see five people in our class. It feels very isolating when you’re just working on projects with the same people all year round. So having this event means a lot, ”said Losi. “It will just be nice to have something semi-normal.”
“I think it will still be sad, it’s harder to hear people in masks,” said VanWie-Adair.
“I think we’ll make it because we’ve come this far,” said Losi. “We’ll get used to it, it’ll be strange when we get there, but it’ll be fun.”
Tara Attanasio, the owner of Azalea’s bridal shop, which sells ball gowns in Guilderland, has about a quarter of the business she normally has for ball gowns this season.
She keeps a “prom book,” recording the names of the girls from each school and the type of dress they buy so that no girl comes to prom with the same dress.
“Right now two girls have bought for junior prom in Bethlehem and they don’t even know if they have a prom this year, and I had a girl buy for senior [prom]”Said Attanasio.” Usually there are four pages filled in front and back. “
Attanasio saw the most sales from girls attending smaller schools. Many schools host events in a way that kids say they aren’t enthusiastic about, Attanasio said.
“Other girls are slowly coming [to buy a dress] who are not sure if they will have a prom, ”said Attanasio. “The girls who aren’t sure a lot of them, their parents, say they’re doing something, a little prom in the back yard. We will make sure that especially the seniors who didn’t get a junior prom last year and were betrayed by all these seniors in annual rites of passages are going to get something. “
Tina Versac, mother of a senior at Emma Willard School, a private school in Troy that has prom was canceled but has many other senior events taking place, says many parents are trying to plan something similar. Something that is safe but special outside, like taking photos at Saratoga Spa State Park.
All Occasions Limo Service in Albany is also approaching a season with very few bookings.
“Normally my entire fleet would be booked, but this year it’s not even close,” said Dan Plumley, one of the owners of the limo service company.
The Albany Capital Center is in discussion with two schools to host a prom in their 150-square-foot ballroom.
“It’s not a party for everyone, as it may have been the traditional prom in 2019,” said Doug McClaine, the centre’s general manager. “We have the staff, so it is not the responsibility of the school alone [enforce guidelines]. ”
McClaine is optimistic about how many options they can give schools to get a safe prom for COVID-19.
“Students did this, went to school with masks, played sports with masks, so I don’t think this is going to be a problem, they’re used to it,” McClaine said. “Of course the students are affected, but the junior class missed so much last year and this year that we want to give them the best possible time.”