NHS prom theme is ‘A Night in Enchanted Waters’

When high school prom attendees step into their venue, they can almost always expect to see something a little different from the previous year’s event.

One of the biggest changes for the Newton High School prom this year will be the use of both gymnasiums for the popular “After Prom” event, with the events set for Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The lower gym will be used for volleyball and dodgeball. That will all be set up after the regular prom is complete — and hours after the ceremonial walk-in is held in the Center for Performance.

“The district’s custodial staff is a huge help in making this happen by cleaning up the lower gym after the dance, making it ready for volleyball and dodgeball right away,” said Julie Richtsmeier, one of the chairpeople of the committees helping produce the 400-student event. “The weather is unpredictable and always makes it tough to do anything outdoors with prom, and this allows us to make a lot of use of the school’s indoor space.”

The high school will be open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to allow the public to view all decorated areas. This year’s prom walk-in event will be hosted — for the sixth time — by Berg Middle School teachers Trent Powers and Tara Zehr.

The public will be allowed to view the walk-in, and will be allowed to fill the Center for Performance at about 8:15 p.m.

Powers and Zehr will start some trivia games at about 8:30 p.m., and couples will start to take the stage at about 8:45 p.m., with boys introducing their prom dates to the audience. After the walk-in, couples will head to the dance in the lower gym, and the general public will depart. All prom attendees must show up to the school by 10:15 p.m. to be admitted to the prom.

The dance ends at about 11:45 p.m. That’s when students head home to change, and staff will ready the lower gym for After-Prom dodgeball and volleyball. Richtsmeier said other After-Prom fun includes inflatables and a “Just Dance” game setup. The entrance to the After Prom will be locked at 12:30 a.m.

At about 2:15 a.m., students will return to the Center for Performance, where door prizes will be awarded. A hypnotist will then make a presentation, expected to last about one hour.

That’s when After Prom officially ends, although Richtsmeier said many families around town will then host gatherings for breakfast in their homes.

Richtsmeier said there are many volunteers who help put prom and After Prom together by heading or serving on committees. She wants to praise Lora and Kenny Caves, Dr. Kristi Rhoads, Shelly Fitzgerald, Wendy Jenkins, Colette Ergenbright, Linda Reynolds and Amy Antle who help chair committees assigned to different elements of the evening. The student council decorates the gym.

Richtsmeier said parents of juniors are typically the ones involved in planning and helping with prom night.

“There are probably about 40 to 50 families who are helping with After Prom this year, so there are room for more,” Richtsmeier said. “I think it’s going to be a safe, fun night.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com