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04/20/2021 01:52 PMAs the weather warms up, vaccines become more available and life begins to return to normal, it also means the return of one of high school’s most anticipated rites of passage: prom. Here is a run down of what prom will look like in Clinton, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook.
Getting a dress or tuxedo, finding a corsage, taking pictures with friends, and dancing have been a familiar joy and/or stress for generations of teenagers during prom season. However, things looked different last year when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The virus caused area schools to adopt a completely remote schedule, which meant the cancellation of all in-person festivities, including prom.
This year, while prom is back on the schedule, there will be some modifications made to the event and there are still lots of details to figure out. Still, kids will get the chance to have a little slice of normal to end a high school career that has been anything but.
Here is a look at what prom will look like based off of current information for all three towns covered by the Harbor News.
Clinton
Clinton will hold its junior prom on Friday, May 14 at Cascade in Hamden and its senior prom on Friday, May 21 at The Woodwinds in Branford. The Morgan School Principal Keri Hagness said the school is still getting guidance from the Department of Public Health and more details will need to be ironed out before they are shared.
“We are excited to offer these important celebrations for our students,” Hagness said.
Westbrook
In Westbrook, the junior and senior prom will be held on Saturday, May 1 at St. Clements Castle in Portland. The prom will take place entirely outside with masks and six-foot distancing required. Additionally, only Westbrook High School students may attend, according to Westbrook High School Principal Tara Winch.
“The Prom Committee is very excited about this opportunity. They discussed possible outside options with the senior class advisor, Patrick Hanssen, and we were able to provide this option,” Winch said, adding that the theme for the night is “under the stars.”
Old Saybrook
Sheila Riffle, the principal at Old Saybrook High School, said that prom has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 15 but there are still many details that need to be worked out. A letter sent out to parents from Riffle and Class of 2021 advisors Shayne Muñoz and Koren Torre said that a large portion of seniors indicated at a meeting in March that besides graduation, prom was the event they were most looking forward to before high school ends.
The school will continue to seek guidance from the health department and reasoned that scheduling a late prom would help. The school can have more time to plan a big celebration, it doesn’t conflict with the advanced placement testing that occurs in May and early June, and it hopefully minimizes the risk of the event being canceled.
“Finally, considering the surges many have experienced throughout the state following school breaks, we believe that this late date is our best chance at actually being able to follow through and have the prom for the students who wish to attend,” the letter stated in part.