Masuk Transformed for Post Prom Celebration

While nearly 800 Masuk juniors and seniors were enjoying their prom Friday night, dozens of volunteers transformed their high school into a magical scene out of the book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.

“It starts in October when we start picking our theme,” explained Darlene Dance who served on the decorating committee. Dance has a senior and freshman at Masuk.

“I made too much!” Patti Kallas exclaimed as she moved a large lamp post in place next to a giant re-creation of the Brooklyn Bridge. Scenes of Broadway decorate the other side of the hall. “We love Broadway. So this was easy for us,” Kallas said.

“It’s important to keep the kids safe and give the kids an option from driving around from party to party,” Kallas said before adding, “And it’s a creative outlet for me.”

Kallas has a senior in college and a senior at Masuk and has been helping with the post prom for seven years. She is concerned about this great tradition continuing. “We really need people to step up for next year. We really worked with a skeleton crew for decorating and clean up. It takes a village to make it happen,” Kallas said.

Marian Hampel is the Chair of the decorating committee. “We have so many artistic parents,” Hampel said, “We transform the school so you wouldn’t even know where you were. We even have jells to put in the lights to change their color.”

“Our theme this year is: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss,” Hampel said, “You can see space and France. It’s wonderful.”

A committee of about 25 parents contributed to the decorating, with a core group of about a dozen parents creating the bulk of it. The scenes, including areas decorated like Hollywood and Mardi Gras, stretch from the lobby, down several hallways and into the cafeteria.

“It’s awesome! You feel like you are going to those places,” said Olivia Far, 14, of Monroe. Clare Collins, 13, of Monroe added, “I liked the Mardi Gras (hall). It was very colorful!”

The public was invited to view the post prom decorations Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m.

Students enter an “airport terminal” complete with a flight board displaying gate numbers and destination. Students sign in and are given wrist bands. “As long as you are a junior or senior, you can come. Even if you can’t afford to go to the prom, you can come here,” Hampel said.

The prom took place at The Waterview in Monroe and tickets were $85 per person. It’s estimated that 85% of the prom-goers or about 700 teens attend the post prom party, which takes place from 11:30 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. Students may bring their date to the post prom party even if they are not a Masuk student, as long as they attended the prom. Consent forms were also required.

“It costs about 10 to 15,000 to put this on,” explained Hampel, “but it’s completely free for the kids. We raise money through donations and the fashion show in the fall.”

The lower level of the school was set up with several inflatables, laser tag, a wrecking ball game and a temporary tattoo artist. The teens were also treated to caricaturists and palm readers and a raffle for prizes including a TV and much valued parking spaces for juniors.

The food for the event was completely supplied by local businesses, including pizza and sandwiches. Many parents also donated baked goods.

Anna Cretella has a senior at Masuk. “This is my third child (to graduate from Masuk.) I’ve been doing this for eight years,” Cretella said. “We’d like to encourage more parents to get involved and help.”

Hampel added, “I would love to see more freshman parents get involved and pay it forward each year!”

“It’s a lot of fun and a great community activity,” said Lori-Ann Morrissey, the parent of a sophomore. “Even though I don’t have anybody (graduating this year), I believe in it.”