Considering the outfits, reservations for dinner and transportation the night of the event, accessories and plans for photographs, many local families have already invested time and money into one of the biggest nights for a high school student: prom.
For seniors, prom is particularly important, as it is one of the last big events shared with classmates before graduation sends them in different directions.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to prevent the spread of it, many schools have been forced to cancel or postpone prom.
At this point, it is unclear what prom will look like for students in the Jackson metro.
Madison County Schools when ahead and canceled the event for all high schools in the district.
Jackson Academy, Jackson Prep and St. Andrew’s staff and students are still hopeful, and the plan at press time is to postpone prom until the guidelines regarding crowds have been lifted. It may not be a traditional prom, but the idea is still the same: a fun-filled night shared with classmates and friends.
Prom at St. Andrew’s was originally scheduled for April 4 with a “Prom Nouveau” theme, based on the Art Nouveau movement.
“I never expected my senior year to end like this because there were so many milestones and events I was looking forward to. I’ve still been keeping in touch with my class, and I am holding on to a sliver of hope that we will be back in school in May,” St. Andrew’s Student Body President senior Toni Oluwatade said.
But for Oluwatade there is a silver lining. She had not made reservations or bought a dress yet, so rescheduling is no problem.
Jackson Academy also has plans to reschedule prom, which was also scheduled for Saturday, April 4.
“As I said in my official email blast to students, I would love for us to be comfortable and confident enough to have it before the end of the school year,” said Upper School Student Activities Coordinator Rebecca Fowler. “JA is taking everything one week at a time so we are not giving up yet.
“There is no way to know a date that would work at this point, but we are holding out hope,” Fowler said. “I would like to think that even if prom is not possible, some kind of event could be done, especially for our seniors.”
In Fowler’s message for students, she encouraged them to continue to support local businesses by requesting reservations and deposits for restaurants and transportation to be used at a later date rather than refunded.
All on-campus activities scheduled at Jackson Prep until April 17 have been canceled, according to Chief External Affairs Officer Crisler Boone.
“We are monitoring things by the week as well, and that includes prom,” Boone said. “We are hopeful we will be able to do something for the seniors. I don’t know if it will look like prom, but we are hopeful we will have some sort of event before the end of the school year.”
At Madison County Schools, all proms have been canceled, along with all extracurricular events that would involve crowds through April 30.
“Any events after that time will be a wait-and-see situation,” said Madison County Schools Director of Communication Gene Wright. “At this point there are too many uncertainties to make concrete plans. As time goes by and the health situation evolves, we will remain in contact with the Mississippi Department of Health and the Department of Education and follow their recommendations.”
