The bluesy tones of an Elvis impersonator greeted curious parents, grandparents and neighbors arriving to take the 2015 Methacton post prom walk-through tour as they were greeted by student tour guides and school board director Cathleen Barone, and given some history on this community tradition, now in its sixteenth year. Superintendent Zerbe was also in line early to get a peek at the ambiance.
In past years I’ve written about what a wonderful program
post-prom is and how successful it’s been in keeping juniors and seniors safe
after prom. My own son has been out of Methacton a couple of years now and he
still wishes he could attend post-prom – that’s how fun it is and what a great
reputation it has among students.
I’m adding a few photos here but for lots more pictures (set to music, too!) as to the
decorations accompanying this year’s theme, go to https://youtu.be/hmM_5hu5lPE. This year’s theme – “Rock the Halls” – had substantial
assistance from the Arcola music teachers, and a Worcester Township resident
donated the use of a vintage 1912 Harley-Davidson motorcycle for the Methacton
version of Hard Rock Café. The Café will feature student performers throughout
the night and is a coffee-house style setting in which kids can relax.
As always, each of the elementary schools adopts a bathroom
and selects a theme in which to outfit it. This year’s themes are Elvis/Blue
Hawaii, Katy Perry, Pink Floyd/The Wall and a Jimmy Buffett beachy theme.
In addition to the stunning décor, students have a variety
of choices to pass the time all night, from inflatable activities to mechanical
bull riding, a faux casino, games like ping pong, foosball, billiards, and air
hockey, lazer tag, dodgeball and volleyball tournaments, to movies in a theater-like setting (this year’s
showings include Footloose, The Great Gatsby, and Step Up). The “cash cab” of the last few years gives way
to “Rockin’ Rollercoaster” this year (but functions essentially the same, as a
roving trivia contest with cash prizes). Also new this year is a Family Feud
game show.
Ah yes, the prizes are a big reason the kids stay. They have
chances to win serious electronics (iPads, laptops, iPods, flat screen TVs),
concert and sports tickets, and gift certificates for staying the night, and
thanks to many generous local food donors, the kids are well fed and exhausted
when they leave at 6 am.
Also new this year was a drug and alcohol awareness counter
featuring not only information on the perils of a variety of substances but a
backdrop of large photos and names of Methacton and local community students
who have passed in recent years due to overdoses or alcohol-related accidents
or other drug-related situations, to remind kids that these things can and do
happen to people just like them, or perhaps to people they know. School
director Kim Woodring helped staff this display.
A small army of approximately 400 people works all year to pull
together the theme, decorations, food, finances, and all the myriad details
that go into putting such a huge event together. This year as many students
graduate and move and parent turnover occurs, post-prom is looking for new
volunteers to take on leadership positions for Post Prom 2016. Please consider
stepping up to chair a committee or help out behind the scenes, or on the
magical evening itself, providing security, working as a casino dealer, helping
with trike races or in some other capacity. You’ll have fun too and make new
(and talented!) friends.
For more information contact Dana Reddington (danareddington@gmail.com), Kim Beam
(kimberleebeam@hotmail.com) or
Karen Kilgour (khgilgour@gmail.com).
