Dexter High School Juniors and Seniors Enter an Enchanted Forest for Prom 2012

A small army of organizers and volunteers hurried through the halls of Saturday night, completing the final touches of an elaborate set-up, which was actually months in the making, as the 2012 junior and senior prom was set to commence.

Orchestrating the rush of activity was prom coordinator Mary Ann Parr, who said volunteers began planning for the event last October.

“We've been meeting every month," she said.

Before all the technical facets of the prom can begin to come together, however, one of the first orders of business is to decide on a theme for the occasion.

Student Council Advisor Al Snider said students attending the dance chose the theme for the décor and activities. The theme the students picked for the 2012 prom was “Enchanted Forest,” and by Saturday evening the halls of the high school were barely recognizable in the new fairy tale and fable-inspired skin.

“Our goal every year is to transform the school so that the kids don’t totally recognize it,” Parr said, pointing out an elaborate fortune telling area, casino room and a Guitar Hero stage that looked to be extracted straight from a television show set.

Putting on an event the size of the DHS prom is no easy task according to Parr, and she said it is only through the diligent help of parental and staff-based volunteers that the dance can go off without a hitch.

“We have 12 (event) chairmen,” she said, explaining that every room, or themed activity, has one person in charge and that they each lead a specially-focused task force.

In addition, helping hands are required for other tasks such as post-prom clean-up and supervisory roles while the kids are at the dance, Parr said.

“We’ve had 100 or more volunteers throughout the weekend,” she said.

In spite of the intensive nature of this collaborative process, Parr said it is all well worth it in order to allow students to attend their prom within the familiar walls of DHS, rather than in a random hotel ballroom or rental hall.

“The reason we do things like this is for the kids,” she said. “It’s just a fun time for young people. There are games and food and they can win prizes. It’s been here (at the high school) for more than 30 years."

Principal Kit Moran greeted the prom guests as they arrived Saturday night, and he said the work of volunteers such as Parr is alway appreciated by the kids who are lucky enough attend.

“It’s the students' night,” he said,” It’s their big deal. They always look forward to going to the prom."

One facet that made this year’s dance slightly more appealing than the previous was the weather, Moran said. Temperatures hovered around the mid-80 degree mark before the sun began to set, which was in stark contrast to last year, according to Williams, when he said cold weather and rain hampered some of the arrivals.

“Tonight’s the perfect night,” Moran said. “It’s beautiful. This is pretty neat.”