Beautiful gowns, tuxes, and corsages- it's Prom season again. Every year Norwood High School seniors finally get to attend the main event they have been waiting four years to experience. The Norwood senior student body will get together for a night filled with dancing and laughter, food and fun. But as the students head to the Gazebo on May 19 to be transported by buses into Boston for a spectacular night, one question is on the minds of parents, law enforcement and the community; how will these young adults be kept safe?
Underage drinking is a crisis all around the country, and Norwood is not immune to the statistics. It happens, and it puts kids at risk. Violence, injuries, property damage, and death are some consequences of the choice to consume alcohol irresponsibly, but kids do it nonetheless.
Prom, in particular, is a night where this choice is made very evident as some do choose to drink during and after the party. Statistics show that about a third of alcohol-related teen traffic fatalities happen between April and June, which is considered the peak of Prom season. Although Norwood provides safe transportation to and from prom, it is what happens after the students return that could put their safety at risk.
It was out of this concern for student’s well-being that the Norwood community pioneered the Post Prom Party.
The fundamental goal of Post Prom is to provide a safe and responsible place to party after Prom, explained Committee Co-Chair Annemarie Carr. Instead of drinking at an unsupervised party, students can pack into the high school gym and enjoy an extended celebration. From 12-5 a.m., the festivities continue with a D.J, inflatable bouncy houses, card readers, raffles and so much more.
Students choose the theme each year and work together with parents and faculty to bring the idea to life. Some of the past themes have been Mardi Gras, Dr. Seuss “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” and this year, for the 30th anniversary of the Post Prom Party, the students have chosen Outer Space.
Approximately 300 Norwood students, depending on class size, and their prom dates attend each year.
Giving the students an alternative to after prom activities empowers them to make good decisions and also take part in what has become a tradition for Norwood students. The Post Prom Party has presents the chance to create even more fond memories of the final year of high school and has become a point of pride for the entire Norwood community.
Issue Date:
May, 2017
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