With junior prom fast approaching and as the bids for prom were released this week, I spoke with Gianna Vaccaro, one of the students who is a part of the Class of 2022 Student Government to discuss the changes as well as the continuities that we will see with this year’s junior prom.

The prom will be held at the Grand Marquis on Friday, April 23rd from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Various options were taken into careful consideration, including holding prom outdoors on the FTHS football field. The plan, as of right now, is for the event to be held indoors. However, Student Government is carefully observing social distancing requirements and completely “following the orders of the governor,” says Gianna. Meaning, that many of the plans are subject to change with the statements of Governor Murphy as we progress closer to the date. 

Through all the difficulties and problems that accompany the process of planning a prom amidst a global pandemic, Student Government has worked hard to create a prom that will be just as memorable as those in the past. Gianna explains that the prom will be just as formal, as many students have been eagerly purchasing dresses and tuxedos. In addition, she states that Student Government has been working tirelessly to create nice invitations, select a venue, as well as decorations in order to maintain the formality that is associated with prom. 

In further attempts to keep prom as normal as possible, students will be allowed to bring a date, whether they attend a school within the Freehold Regional High School district or are from a school outside the district. However, there are additional requirements and forms that need to be signed by the guest’s principal as well as guardians if this is the case. Although this seems complicated, Gianna believes that this will not deter students because many are looking forward to enjoying themselves, and this may look different for every individual.

While Student Government wishes for every student to be able to attend, they are acutely aware of the fact that students have varying comfort levels at this point, especially due to the fact that for many this will be the largest gathering they have attended in over a year. Gianna emphasizes the fact that the most pertinent goal of Student Government is to adhere to social distancing guidelines for the protection of the students, which means aspects of prom will certainly look different. The main point of discussion when assessing the safety of the event was face masks. The conclusion that Student Government has come to is that mask requirements will act similarly to that of when attending a restaurant, where people will not be required to wear masks when they are seated, but masks will be mandatory when students choose to leave their table. 

In order to attend prom, students must complete forms, contracts, and fill out a request for a table, in order to purchase a bid, which costs ninety-five dollars. These forms must be completed and submitted by March 31st. All paperwork can be found on the FTHS Class of 2022 Google Classroom. 

Overall, it is very clear that Student Government has been able to overcome many difficulties and has constructed an atmosphere where students will be protected and have the ability to enjoy themselves. When speaking with Gianna, she continued to highlight the fact that prom will be extremely enjoyable, as she believes it is imperative to the class of 2022 to have this experience due to the numerous activities we have missed out on. Through the vast uncertainty that has come with the pandemic, we are extremely fortunate to be able to have such a dedicated group of students and teachers who have organized a junior prom that will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience for all who attend.