On May 24, Sidwell will hold the junior and senior prom at the Hilton National Mall. The event, themed “An Enchanted Evening,” begins with a reception, followed by a seated dinner and music.
After dinner, students are invited to mingle with other tables, play games and take photos in the photo booth until the event wraps up at 1 a.m., when students will return to the school campus by bus.
After prom, many students return home, sleepover with friends, watch movies or even stay up to watch the sunrise at the National Mall.
According to senior Nyla Ahmad, a member of the Prom Planning Committee, the event’s primary goal is to ensure that every student — whether a junior or senior — feels rewarded for all their hard work this year. “[We want] to make sure every one of the attendees enjoys their night in their own way,” she said.
Interim Dean of Student Life and History Department Head Darren Speece, who is chaperoning the event, added that Sidwell prom does a great job bringing the community together and expects this event to culminate the seniors’ time at Sidwell. He has found that students enjoy dressing up and having a celebration off-campus. “Prom provides the opportunity for students to end the year in fellowship with each other,” he said of the event.
Many students also arrange to meet with friends in a pre-gathering before prom to take photos. The Prom Planning Committee and parents make an effort to ensure that all students are included in a pre-prom photo opportunity.
According to junior Fred Bao, several of his friends have expressed their excitement for the event and have been looking forward to the prom since they were freshmen.
Senior Alma Degener considers prom especially important for seniors, as it offers one final chance to “gather as a community before heading to college. It’s one of the last events with the whole grade and hyped up in the shows and movies we watched growing up.”
Senior Ava Song is also looking forward to prom. “I’m most excited about having fun with my friends and seeing the decorated venue,” she shared.
Despite facing issues with student participation earlier in the year, Ahmad noticed that students have taken an increased interest in the planning in recent weeks. “Many people have attended the meetings recently, so the decisions are moving much faster,” she said. Ahmad played a key role in planning the event. She has crafted logos and slogans and helped with the menu, drink options and prom swag.
Speece hopes that improved student participation will encourage students to remind their peers of ways to make the event more accessible. He understands the stress of prom and encourages every student to attend, offering solutions to any issues they may have.
“There are some great prom dress swaps in the area, and I encourage everyone to use them,” Speece said. Traditionally, juniors wear short, knee-length dresses and seniors wear longer, full-length dresses.
The prom tickets cost $125 each, but Speece added that “cost should not be an issue.” Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management and Financial Aid Frankie Brown connects with families about financial support for prom, managing discounted tickets and offering funds for expenses like transportation, tuxedos and dresses.
“I just hope our vision gets executed in the end, that everything comes together, and that every single junior and senior will create memories from their night in a fairytale,” concluded Ahmad.
