Saturday, April 25, 2015

Methacton Post Prom 2015 Rocks The Halls

 (For a video featuring many more of the themed art and displays from Post Prom 2015, please visit:  https://youtu.be/hmM_5hu5lPE)

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).
 

 

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