Private Prom Planned By Parents During Pandemic For HOCO Seniors

Columbia MD

26 April, 2021

4:19 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — When the coronavirus pandemic first swept across the country in early 2020, entire states shut down, including Maryland. Students suddenly were sent home and schools were shuttered until they reopened in the spring of 2021. Youths missed activities and in-person sessions with friends and favorite teachers. But with coronavirus cases still a concern, many cherished end-of-the-school-year milestones current graduating high school seniors had looked forward to have been canceled. One group of parents refuse to let their high school seniors miss out on their beloved prom, which school officials determined could not be safely held this spring. Mom Crystal Werner told Patch the class of 2021 has endured a "very difficult year" that started with the abrupt end of their junior year last March. "The Atholton senior class parents, like many parents around the U.S. and Howard County, formed a planning group and we have held events for the seniors throughout the year, starting with a senior sunrise, then a fall get-together at TLV Tree farm sponsored by the farm. We just wanted to bring a little joy to a difficult situation especially during this time when depression is a real battle for some," Werner said. Entire sports seasons have been rescheduled or simply won't happen at all. No homecoming. No winter formal. No school concerts. They watched last year's seniors miss out on so much and couldn't believe they were facing the same fate. Howard County's graduating seniors didn't have the chance to enjoy prom as juniors among other events and activities. "We do not want the class of 2021 to be the only class to never have experienced a prom. These graduates deserve the time to get together and enjoy each other's company," she said. So Werner and other parents decided to start raising money to allow them to hold the prom the teens never otherwise would've had. She noted most are working parents and it requires a team effort to pull off a prom, an idea they're all on board with just to see their kids dressed up and smiling, together again. "When (Howard County Public School Systems) announced that they were unable to throw a prom, we started discussing whether or not we should throw one for our students. Parents are grateful to have the opportunity for an in-person graduation, but we also did not want to risk a potential COVID exposure so close to an important event," Werner said. In January, Werner jumpstarted the parent group's fundraising with a fun and memorable "flock your senior" drive. "Brian Harlin of Neighborhood Signs and Stickers donated his design skills and some signs to our efforts. I purchased 70 flamingos and spray painted them the school colors. Parents signed up for $20 per house to have their senior get flocked by flamingos starting in January and it is still ongoing. We currently have three flocks of 21 flamingos making their rounds twice a week with 96 families participating," Werner said. "Each family moves the flock from their own yard on to the next. It's silly, but that's the purpose — to do something unexpected and to bring a smile to our seniors." Not every parent can volunteer, so the group created a GoFundMe page to allow the community to support the prom initiative, too. As of April 26, the virtual fundraising platform has raised $3,080 toward the $5,000 goal. "It's super expensive to host a prom-like event and we need all of the help that we can get. Even a few dollars is more than we had before we started," Werner said. Current high school seniors may not fully understand what missing out on prom means, but their parents don't ever want them to wonder what could've been. "I believe that all of the Howard County students have taken this difficult time way better than many of us adults may have or are currently. I've not heard any complaining, but I do know that they miss the idea of what this senior year was supposed to be like for them," she said. Altholton High School's prom will be held June 4 after the school's graduation night from 7 to 11 p.m. at Overhills Mansion in Catonsville. Parents are in the process of contemplating safe activities and other exciting opportunities for students. They also are working their way through COVID-19 precautions to ensure the event abides by them, Werner said. "Honestly, we just want to give them a night to remember. If we only have a few students come and have fun, it will absolutely be worth it," Werner said.