SHERBURNE – In an effort to encourage more students to choose safer after-prom activities, the Sherburne-Earlville School District will once again hold an after-prom party with prizes, games and activities that will positively assure everyone has a great time.
The S-E prom will be held on Saturday, and when the prom ends, the fun will continue at the S-E Elementary School in the gym/cafeteria wing. The after-prom party will be held from 1 to 6 a.m. and is free and open to anyone who attended the prom or any junior whether they attended the prom or not.
“This is the fifth year we’ve had the after-prom party,” said coordinator Rochelle Harris. “It gives the kids a safe and fun alternative to other activities that they may engage in on prom night.”
Harris explained that in past years, the event has been held at banquet halls, but this year, more space is needed for some of the activities, so the committee decided to hold the event at the school.
Activities this year will include a defender dome, a 20-foot high by 60-foot wide circular contraption in which students will be able to have dodge ball competitions; the bungee run; human jousting; the cash cube, which will contain $500 cash and additional prizes; a casino table; movies; video game contests, including Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution; airbrush tattoos and a hypnotist. Pizza, make your own sundaes, muffins, juice and milk will also be available.
In addition to the games and entertainment, door prizes will be given out randomly every 15 minutes, and all juniors will be entered into drawings for major prizes, including a new computer, a camera and printer package, a cordless telephone with photo caller ID, cash, mall gift certificates or even a car.
Dick Pope, owner of Norwich Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep, will be donating most of the cost of a 1997 Ford Escort LX to the after-prom party. Every junior will automatically be entered in the drawing, but you must be present to win.
Pope has been donating a car for the after-prom party give away since the party first began five years ago. “We’re proud to be able to sponsor the event. It gives the kids some incentive to come, and anything that keeps a tragedy from happening is well worth the cost, whatever the cost may be,” Pope said referring to the trend of drinking and driving on prom night. Pope first got involved with the after prom party when his daughter was a junior at Sherburne-Earlville. “When Shelly (Harris) presented it, I thought it was a great idea. It was a natural fit,” Pope said. He estimated juniors have about a 1 in 100 or 150 chance of winning the car. “This is our way of giving back to the community we serve.”
Harris explained that the after prom party committee had a fund raising goal of $10,000 this year, and due to the generosity of this year’s parents and area businesses, they are close to reaching that goal. “The businesses have been very generous this year, and the parents really came through for us,” Harris said.