Then-junior Ellie Rosean walked into Prom last year with a mix of nerves and excitement. As part of the prom committee, she had been a part of choosing the theme, selecting decorations, and deciding on a menu. This was the first, and only, time she would see all of her hard work put together.
“It’s really cool, once you go to prom, to see everything that we’ve talked about for so long,” Rosean said. “Seeing our ideas come to life is pretty cool.”
Now, Rosean, along with a group of about 20 sophomores, juniors and seniors, has been working to plan this year’s prom. Beginning during winter finals week, the prom committee gets together and brainstorms potential themes for the year’s bash.
“We probably have like 20 or 30, and then once we get to that point we start narrowing it down,” Rosean said. We combine things that are similar, we cross off things we definitely don’t want, until we get to 4-6 different themes we like.”
Social science teacher Kristen Ray is going into her seventeenth year as the prom advisor. For her, acting as the advisor isn’t actively choosing the theme herself; it’s facilitating the ideas and wants of the students.
“I say things like, ‘OK, how would you decorate for that one [theme], what do you see?” Ray said. “And if they’re like ‘I don’t know,’ we cross it off.”
According to Ray, the final four concepts this year narrowed down to were enchanted rainforest, fly me to the moon, garden party and greek Gods. Ultimately, the prom committee selected garden party as the 2025 concept, with the theme being officially called “In Full Bloom.”
“It’s definitely different from last year, which I like,” said Rosean. “I’m glad that we ended up with one … that’s lighter and springier. It could be nice to have that contrast.”
Prom will be held on May 3rd at the Belvedere Banquet in Elk Grove, a different location from last year. Ray believes that this new venue is well-suited for the garden party theme.
“I really think the theme that we’re going with this year fits that venue,” said Ray. “Last year was Gatsby themed, and I don’t know if Gatsby would’ve been that awesome if it was at this venue.”
In Full Bloom does vary quite a bit from last year’s Great Gatsby inspired film, but Ray attested that the past few years have followed a general pattern of black and white or black and silver. For Ray, a big part of the reason why being prom advisor is so fun for her is because she gets to see students’ ideas and hard work come together at the dance. She recommends attending prom if able, not because of the dance itself necessarily, but because it is a great way to wrap up the year.
“It’s a time for them to get dressed up fancier than normal, go to this really elegant venue, and especially for seniors, it culminates the four years,” said Ray.
Prom tickets will go live Monday, March 17th at 8am. All juniors and seniors are eligible to attend unless otherwise contacted by their dean. Tickets are $95 per person, with April 6 being the last day to make a purchase.
