This year’s After Prom Committee was fortunate to have a hugely successful fundraiser in July that netted the group most of the $8,000 it will spend on activities and food for this year’s after-prom party, said Stephanie McDonald.
“Parents of junior students at Iola High School were very generous with paper goods, their time and food at the July teachers meeting where we served dinner to nearly 500 attendees. We’ve had additional fundraisers but the July dinner was our big money-maker,” said McDonald, After Prom Committee chairperson.
The after-prom party is an opportunity for students to have fun in a safe and drug-free environment long after the formal dance. Students must attend prom in order to attend the party.
What many people don’t understand is that prom is a school event, and the after-prom party is sponsored by parents of junior students even though the same school guidelines are followed for the party, McDonald said.
The prom will be from 7 p.m. to midnight on April 21. Students must sign up for the after-prom party in order to attend. They will be allowed to leave the prom at 11:45 p.m. and have until 12:30 a.m. to go home and change clothes before going to the Recreation Community Building in Riverside Park.
The party sponsors will be provided a list of students who may attend the party along with a contact number for their parents. If a student tries to leave before the party ends at 3 a.m. a parent will be notified. This year about 250 students plan to attend the after-prom party. Students from Crossroads Learning Center are also invited to prom and the party, McDonald said.
Each student attending the party will receive an after-prom T-shirt. The students will have hot-dogs and sloppy joes to munch on in between group and individual games. A disc jockey will be at the party to interact with the students during the games. There will not be a dance at the party.
Area merchants have been generous with donations of prizes, coupons, discounts and novelties that will be given as door prizes and at drawings throughout the event, McDonald said.
“We can use more parents to help chaperone at the party and to help set up the games. We will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Recreation Building to begin preparations for the party,” McDonald said.
Parents who would like to help with the after-prom party may call McDonald at (620) 228-2792 or Judy Baker at the high school at (620) 365-4715.
