As the school year comes to an end, Old Saybrook High School celebrated its annual tradition of Prom, with this year’s event taking place at St. Clements Castle in Portland, Connecticut on May 31. For Old Saybrook, prom is a major event for seniors and juniors to come together and celebrate the transition seniors will make after they graduate.
Prior to May 31, students attending were intrigued by what this year would offer, especially seniors who went last year. OSHS senior Ellie Pennington shared that “the location seems super pretty so I’m excited for pictures.” Juniors were also excited, though they weren’t sure what to expect, with junior Cassie Garcia stating that “I heard a lot of great things about last year’s prom and the venue which is supposedly very pretty. I hope that I can have fun with my friends throughout.” However, not everyone was going to attend prom this year, with some seniors being unable to go. In regards to his reasoning for skipping the event, Senior Eric Bird commented that, “It just isn’t for me honestly, especially with the dense crowds and loud music that’s played.”
So how did prom go? For the most part, it was a success, especially with the venue being a fan-favorite for many students, as well as a tavern area that led to a bar for shirley temples and sodas. When it came to the area itself, Senior Lexi Powers stated that “I liked the courtyard with the greenery but I wish it didn’t rain so much so we could be out there more.”
When it came to the music played over the speakers and the live music performed by the local band Vanguard, which featured some OSHS students such as junior Sasha Dziebel and senior Elizabeth Pamment, the crowd went wild. The band played popular songs such as Ain’t it Fun by Paramore and even Von Dutch by Charli XCX. For senior Drew Demers, his favorite part of the night was the live band, saying it “was undeniably the most fun I’ve had on the prom dance floor for the three years I’ve gone. Just wish they had a longer set.”
On the other hand, the food had mixed reviews, with burgers and chicken sandwiches being offered in the beginning, which then led to caesar salads and an entree option of either chicken mac and cheese, chicken parmesan, or lasagna. When it came to the chicken mac and cheese, junior Mia Casertano said, “I took one look at the chicken and said ‘absolutely not’ and took it off my plate.” When it came to the desserts, junior Philippa Wrightsman added that “I liked the brownies out of everything there, the rest [wasn’t great].” Though the food wasn’t a favorite for students, the venue and music seemed to make up for it.
