With many dresses already purchased and tuxedos ordered, students in area schools received the disappointing news last spring that there would be no official prom in 2020. For many seniors, that left an irreplaceable void and reminder of a disrupted final year. For juniors, it meant eager anticipation and hopefulness toward this year.

Recognizing that, administrators in both the Warren County R-III and Wright City R-II School Districts are determined to make prom happen for students this year. As of now, each is pressing forward with plans to hold a unique form of the event, including an outdoor dance.

“Prom was something that we really wanted to try to make happen for our seniors, especially after they were unable to have one last year,” said Warrenton High School Principal Dr. Brad Ross. “Prom, like graduation, is a tradition unique to high school, and while this prom will not look exactly like it has in years past, we are hopeful that this will be a fond memory from a difficult year.”

The R-III prom will be held on May 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Aspen Center in Innsbrook. This year’s event will be for seniors only, along with their dates, to allow for social distancing, and masks will be required. Seniors wishing to bring a date must complete a form and have it approved prior to purchasing tickets, which are $50 apiece and include a full meal. Tickets will be available for purchase from April 6-16.

Dinner will be served indoors, with a DJ and dance floor set up on the outside deck.

“With COVID numbers decreasing in the county, we feel like we can do it as safely as any event we’ve held this year,” said R-III Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith. “We feel like with lower numbers and wearing masks, keeping as much social distance as possible and having it outside, it can be done safely.”

Wright City will host its prom on April 24, with a tentative time of 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Superintendent Dr. Chris Berger says the time and specific details could change depending on the rise or decline of COVID cases in the county. 

“We’re making a game time decision as to the actual length of the event,” said Berger. “The week of prom we could narrow the time if we see a spike across the region or if it’s looking better, we could extend to the usual hours of 7 to 11 p.m.”

The event will take place at the high school, spaced out around the campus with the option of dancing both indoors or outdoors. 

“We’re utilizing our upper mezzanine, plus the gym and staff parking lot as an outdoor venue, with two DJs,” said R-II Superintendent Dr. Chris Berger. “For parents who might be hesitant to send their children to prom, you could direct your child to stay in the outside area.”

Students will be required to wear masks in situations when not practicing social distancing. The district will be conducting temperature screenings and there will be accessibility to multiple restrooms, as well as frequent presence of custodial staff. 

“It was really important for us to host a prom for the kids,” said Berger. “We created four scenarios for how we might be able to do a prom and put out a survey to parents and kids.”

R-II’s prom will include juniors and seniors, along with their dates. Tickets are $25 apiece.