WOODBURY- Prom season has begun across the country for high school students, and students at Nonnewaug are busy preparing.
Many students start by picking the perfect dress, heels, accessories and makeup, but that’s just the beginning. There is way more that goes into looking and feeling good on prom night.
The average cost high school students have been spending on prom has increased. As of this year, the average cost of prom is $600-1000 and is expected to go up. So how exactly are students preparing for prom night?
First, Nonnewaug students have to pay for the prom permission slip. This year, permission slips for prom were $105, and $85 for seniors who have paid their dues.
“It was pretty hard to get the money for prom for each of my siblings,” Ella Lingley, a junior at NHS who has two other siblings at NHS, says. “I think prom is going to be very fun since we only get two. Underclassmen aren’t allowed to go, so I think it’ll be a fun night with no unnecessary drama.”
After paying the permission slip, underclassmen begin to prepare their appearance.
“I just got my dress, and I got my nails done last Sunday,” NHS junior Aryanna Lucas says. “I plan on going to New York for more prom shopping. My family is doing my hair and makeup.”
Not only are students preparing for prom, but administrators are as well. This year, Google forms were sent out to the Class of 2025 and 2026 Google classrooms for prom tables, as a seating chart will be used at prom this year.
“The tables themselves haven’t been assigned, but the people sitting at the table have been assigned,” Jamie Lisevick, class council co-advisor and one of this year’s prom organizers says. “At the end of the night, if we have a table of 3 students and another table of 6, we might have to reorganize in that way.”
The math behind how many tables and chairs needed comes down to the venue. It can be problematic for kids to constantly move chairs and some tables will only have 5-6 people, and administration is cracking down on this issue.
“We have 330 kids going, which is 33 10-person tables and 330 chairs,” Nonnewaug Principal Mykal Kuslis says, who is eager to see his second prom since taking over as NHS’ principal. “The venue loses chairs throughout the night and more seats are needed, so it ends up being confusing for how many we actually need.”
This puts stress on students who are trying to pick tables to sit with their friends, and students are mentally preparing to be around 330 people for five hours on prom night.
“I feel like I need to mentally prepare, there’s going to be a lot of people and I’m really hoping my table is all able to sit together,” Lucas says. “I hope we don’t get switched and I can sit with my friends at the table we wanted.”
While a lot goes into planning prom and other school dances, students are confident that prom night will be enjoyable. Students, especially seniors, are going to make the most of prom.
“I’m excited, it’s stressful planning everything out but I’m ready to hang out with my friends,” NHS Senior Brooke Bernardi says. “I’m sad that it’s my last prom, but I’m relieved I won’t have to worry about getting a dress again. It’ll be a lot of fun this year.”
