GOWNS and suits will remain in closets for many senior students this week after two Riverland schools postponed their proms due to recent COVID-19 restrictions.
Loxton and Renmark high schools have postponed their end-of-year events – however Glossop High School and Riverland Special School are both pressing ahead with their respective proms this week.
Glossop High will stage a modified prom inside the school’s gymnasium this Friday, at Glossop, while Riverland Special School will start its prom at the Berri Hotel tomorrow night before spending the remainder of the evening at the school site.
Loxton High will stage its prom on Wednesday, December 2, while Renmark High will stage its prom on Thursday, December 17.
Renmark High School year 11 and 12 co-ordinator Marina Pater described the decision to postpone prom as “difficult but necessary”.
“We (the school) tried really hard to try and make prom happen this week but it just wasn’t possible,” she said.
“We worked closely with the Renmark Paringa Council and the Renmark Club and they were happy to accommodate for us. We tried and we looked at it but, based upon restrictions, it was too difficult to go ahead. We had to think of the safety of our students and the wider community.”
Ms Pater said the school rescheduled the prom to be “as late as possible”.
“It will be held the week after school finishes…” she said.
“All students and families have been contacted and were informed that so far nothing has changed, other than the date.
“Tickets do not need to be re-purchased but students will unfortunately have to re-book for their hair, make-up and cars.
“If COVID hits bad again and our new date is a no-go, we unfortunately will probably need to cancel and sadly, prom might never happen. In saying this, we want to remain positive and have hope.”
Ms Pater said the school has tried to make this year “as normal as possible” for year 12 students.
“We’re lucky exams went smoothly and we had no interruptions – apart from the statewide computer glitch with the psychology exam – but students have sadly been robbed of going to Schoolies and a few other things,” she said.
“We may even have to postpone our presentation night but we are trying as hard as we can to make it happen.
“We’ve had a great cohort this year and as a school we have and will continue to provide the students with as much joy as possible.”
Riverland Special School senior school co-ordinator Amy Burlik said many changes were required to make her school’s night possible.
“We only have 45 people attending our prom – 17 being students – so the Berri Hotel said it would be fine to have it there,” she said.
“We’ll be doing the red carpet a little differently this year – students will be taking photos on the grass by the river front – but there will be plenty of room for all parents and carers to come along and take photos.
“It’ll be hot outside but we will have plenty of water, ensure there is social distancing and (hand) sanitiser available.”
Ms Burlik said after dinner at the hotel, students will spend the rest of the evening in the school’s gymnasium.
“Spending the rest of the evening in the gymnasium allows the students to put on some music and have fun,” she said.
“It also allows the hotel to have a second sitting.”