Juniors Host Senior Prom at Nonnewaug High School

Jake Dominello, a junior at who goes by his nickname "Pepper," came up with an idea to offer a senior prom for the seniors in Bethlehem and Woodbury.

With the help of the junior class council, the culinary department, computer classes, the agriscience department, the music department and the Future Business Leaders of America, the prom took place on Friday, March 23, and was a great success.

"They've done Christmas things before but never did a senior prom before," said Marilyn Aligata. "It's a cute idea."

John Dominello, head of the culinary department at Nonnewaug High School and father to Pepper, said NHS students are incredibly active and caring.

"If you look around, we're not at a loss of kids who want to help," he said. "These are kids who do other things -- sports, clubs. Kids like that always find time for this kind of stuff."

Dominello said he feels the students get as much out of these types of events as the adults.

"I talked to a woman from Germany and she said they didn't have proms there," he said. "When she moved to the states, she always admired the tradition but never thought she would be able to participate."

Dominello said the woman wrote her bucket list and going to a prom was one of the activities on the list.

"She said, 'thank you for helping me cross an item off my bucket list'," he said.

Nick D'Andrea came dressed in a dapper white suit and took to the microphone to thank the students and staff. To show his love and appreciation, D'Andrea said he had a song to sing -- "That's Amore."

A Three Course Meal

The menu featured salad with balsamic vinaigrette, chicken pot pie with a biscuit and cheesecake with strawberry sauce.

Dominello, father to Pepper, mostly stayed behind the scenes as the culinary students served plates of food and refilled water glasses.

He said soon Pepper will go to college soon, just like his oldest child did.

"It's going to be hard when he graduates," Dominello said with a touch of sadness and a smile, "but that's why we raise them."