Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Why not take a cardboard cutout of your favourite celebrity to prom? (SUBMITTED)
The weekend after May long was always prom weekend at my high school.
Sad to think the year after I graduated my school, along with many others, thought it be best to have a "formal" presentation of the graduating class combined with grad — essentially eliminating prom.
I think it’s sad because prom was always a formal event for the students, where grad was for the parents. The girls in my class of ’91 were planning what they would wear for months, and I remember the guys going "tux shopping" preparing for the big day.
No limo for me, though, I had my own wheels. My date and I were whisked away in my ’73 Monte Carlo. Not the most affordable on gas, but it sure beat walkin’ or riding to prom with a date on a bike. Our class prom committee fought about the theme, they fought about the meal, they fought about our grand march song, and they fought about decorations.
There was tons of work, a lot of stress and a lot of cash spent on the big day. A recent survey south of the border revealed in the US the average graduate spent over $1200 on prom this year. But just like weddings, the planning, the money and the conflict all came together with the stress forgotten.
As the grand march song started playing, I remember thinking "Holy cow, this is real. I'm going to graduate this year."
Life after grad was scary, and prom offered a welcome distraction for at least one night, where it was magic.
It was me and my friends. It was a chance for us to be dressed up and grown up, and arms around each other declare how we would be "friends forever and never lose touch."
As most of us realize, until Facebook came along, keeping in touch with one's class is virtually impossible.
So is "spring prom" really extinct? I asked on Facebook, "Does anyone still do prom? You know, like in the movies — all done up and separate from grad? If so, where?"
Jodi Holmes Ginter — I am from southern Ontario and when I was in Grade 12 we had a prom and it was in May (we had commencement AKA graduation, in September). Our prom was at a hotel with all the decorations, professional pics, meal, etc. It is a night out with your friends to celebrate your last year in high school and have a blow out party with all the trimmings.
Danna Harvey — I graduated in Alberta and our grad was during the day on a Friday and our prom was on the Saturday. Minnedosa still has prom also. Night before grad, everyone gets dressed up, there is a supper and then a dance.
Brett Roberts — Souris just had prom Saturday, May 12. It was a fancy dress-up dance with corsages for the high school kids.
Ashley Campion — Reston will be!
Meighan Louisa-Lynn Watt-Sloane — when I was in high school and I graduated ’04, we had prom every year and we got all dressed up in prom dresses and it was a huge deal. There was a prom king and queen everyone voted on. It was held at the legion hall in Swan River. I know I was so excited buying my prom dress.
Mercedes McLean — We have a formal prom dance in MacGregor. It's in the gym like all of our dances but its fancier, the Grade 12s wear their grad outfits and the other grades dress up in slightly less formal wear. Prom is usually on the Thursday of the last day of classes for the Grades 9-11s (June 14 this year), and grad is a week or so later (this year June 25) after the Grade 9-11 exams. The elementary school also has a formal year end dance that they call Mini Prom.
Jennifer MacDonald Greer — I graduated in ’91 from Elton and it was a totally separate night. We wore prom gowns had a formal dinner without parents and had the prom in our school gym. My daughter graduates in two years from Wawanesa and they don't even have school dances. I would love to see them bring prom back!
I couldn't believe it. Two, maybe three Westman towns have a "Spring Prom" anymore? Somewhere someone is reading this and they're in Grade 9 or 10, and they're thinking, "Maybe it’s time to bring it back." I think we should have a contest. First school in Brandon to bring back PROM I will come and chaperone in my powder blue tux.
Leanne Price tells me her son graduates in 2013 and they want a prom in Rivers. So I promised Leanne, if they are successful and prom goes in May, grad in June, I offer my services to chaperone for the evening and will broadcast from the event. She's taking the idea to the grad committee.
But before you plan your legendary prom, you may want to see it done right. According to IMDB.com, the top 10 prom movies for those wanting to host their own "Prom Movie Marathon":
10. Twilight
9. Prom Night
8. Never Been Kissed
7. 10 Things I Hate About You
6. Napoleon Dynamite
5. Footloose
4. She's All That
3. Pretty in Pink
2. Carrie
1. American Pie
So if you do get a prom, and you get to plan for the Super Bowl of all high school activities, look for the fat guy in the powder blue tux and radio voice. That's just me helping out.
And don't sweat the small stuff preparing for the party, especially getting a date. Take any one person, or celebrity you want!
Just ask Rachel Bird. She was so determined to bring Tim Tebow to her prom, that she actually brought a life-sized cutout of the Jets quarterback to the dance. The couple took pictures together, danced together, and even sat and ate dinner together.
Not surprisingly, they were the most popular couple at the prom. Asked about her night, Bird said, "He was a cheap date, and he didn't talk much. And when I asked him to stand in a corner, he did. I don't think it even hurt his feelings."
Some might say you had the perfect date Rachel. The perfect night with the perfect date indeed.
A not necessarily well-prepared student sat in his life science classroom, staring at a question on the final exam paper. The question directed: "Give four advantages of breast milk."
What to write?
He sighed, and began to scribble whatever came into his head, hoping for the best:
1. No need to boil.
2. Never goes sour.
3. Available whenever necessary.
So far so good — maybe. But the exam demanded a fourth answer.
Again, what to write?
Once more, he sighed. He frowned. He scowled, then sighed again.
Suddenly, he brightened. He grabbed his pen, and triumphantly, he scribbled his definitive answer:
4. Available in attractive containers of varying sizes.
He received an A.
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 26, 2012
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The weekend after May long was always prom weekend at my high school.
Sad to think the year after I graduated my school, along with many others, thought it be best to have a "formal" presentation of the graduating class combined with grad — essentially eliminating prom.
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The weekend after May long was always prom weekend at my high school.
Sad to think the year after I graduated my school, along with many others, thought it be best to have a "formal" presentation of the graduating class combined with grad — essentially eliminating prom.
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