It will be a very special weekend for North Royalton High School seniors as they gather for Prom at Weymouth Country Club in Medina. Set to a theme inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famed “Starry Night” oil painting, the May 25th event will likely be the last time the Class of 2019 gathers together before Commencement May 31 at Playhouse Square’s State Theatre.
“I’m a big believer in shared experiences and fun traditions. Everyone has very different high school experiences, but Prom tends to be a culminating event for almost all seniors from all different groups,” said Matt Ciha, North Royalton High School math teacher and Student Council and Link Crew advisor. “I am proud that we average nearly 80 percent of our senior class attending Prom each year. As cheesy as it may sound, the seniors recognize that Prom is their last night together as a group that many of them have been a part of for 13 years. While there is never a shortage of drama in the high school years, all of the pettiness does seem to sort of disappear for those last few hours of fun.”
This is the sixth Prom Ciha has helped seniors plan and execute and it’s just as sentimental for him as it is for the graduating class.
“We’ve figured out a really good consistent framework, and Weymouth, in particular, has been an excellent partner over all of these years that coupled with the various decorating experiences allows us to really know how to make the seniors’ ideas come to life,” Ciha said of role each year. “As the Student Council Advisor, I have worked with many of these seniors since they were freshmen. Being able to be a part of their final high school memory is what keeps me coming back each year.”
At the conclusion of Prom, students will head to Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center in Strongsville for After Prom, which runs from 11:30 p.m. till 3 a.m. The event features a diverse range of activities including a mechanical bull and surfboard, inflatables, a “human hamster ball,” basketball and volleyball, Poker/Blackjack tables, Cornhole, a Henna Tattoo artist, hypnotist, photographer, raffle prizes and food graciously donated by Chipotle, Chick-fil-A and Mastro’s The 3 Spot in North Royalton. The annual event is organized and orchestrated by the After Prom Committee. More than 70 parent volunteers assist with the event, which typically draws more than 500 students.
“The After Prom Committee is a committee of parent volunteers who work tirelessly for more than six months to plan a successful event for our students,” said Jonathan Dietrich, a NRHS teacher who assists parents in organizing the event. “Parents have held monthly meetings and subcommittee meetings, and individuals have worked tirelessly too. I love working with parents, especially with After Prom. Providing kids a safe place to spend the time after prom is absolutely necessary. It’s easy motivation.”
This year’s After Prom theme is “Livin’ It Up in the CLE,” said Senior Committee Chair Michelle Grimes. Different Cleveland scenes will be set up throughout the recreation center including East 4th, the Cleveland Metroparks, Edgewater Park, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, JACK Cleveland Casino, A Christmas Story House and the Cleveland skyline. Grimes has been emailing with parents since December to plan and organize each component of After Prom. Parents volunteer on different sub-committees like decorations, food and drink, entertainment, prizes, security and check-in. This year, Grimes sends her last child, Jalen, off to Prom and ends her time as a parent with North Royalton City schools. Jalen will graduate May 31.
“When each activity ended this year for her, like cheerleading, we were sentimental about it,” Grimes said. “But you just take things moment by moment.”
For many seniors, attending Prom, either stag and surrounded by lifelong friends or with a steady date, is the ultimate culmination of their school years.
“Prom is a time where we get to see our kids as the very-near adults that they are. They always act their best with maturity, class and decorum. They shine,” Dietrich said. “To be a chaperone of Prom is a special moment for all of us. For the students, they take the opportunity to enjoy one of their last class moments together. They eat. They dance. They enjoy. They make unforgettable memories. Prom is a very special moment for everyone involved.”
By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer