Johnston High School Students Go to 'Paradise' for Prom

Each year thousands of students get gussied up and dance the night away during prom.

With a little more than a week before prom, students are hard at work putting the finishing touches on decorations for the big night.

With the theme "Sunset in Paradise," students and teacher sponsor Kyla Burns have been constructing palm trees and sunset murals to decorate Veterans Memorial Auditorium on April 14. Johnston's prom will be the first at the newly renovated Des Moines auditorium.

Be sure to submit your Johnston High School prom photos here.

Each year, Burns, who's been the sponsor of prom for about five years, sends out an email to see what students are willing to help decorate for the big dance.

"I've had sophomores to seniors help, we don't turn anyone away," she said, since sophomores aren't invited to prom. "Anyone that wants to help can help."

This year about 15 students are helping to decorate for a prom that will host between 700 and 800 students, Burns said.

"Those that help get the $23 ticket to prom for free," she said. "Although they probably earn more than that."

Making the Renovated Vets Auditorium Shine

The shades of purples and blues that will decorate the space have been tough work, said Jacey Elemer, a senior.

"I visited the center to help plan what we wanted to do for decorations," she said. "From the beginning this was the theme people wanted to do."

In all, the group of students, who come and go from Burns' classroom on Thursdays after school, will make 18 palm trees, 10 lanterns, floral center pieces and several nine-foot by 12-foot sunset murals for pictures.

Jacey helped decorate from prom last year.

"I came in late last year to help," she said. "We did enchanted forest for a theme. We go fake trees last year."

Across the room Sam Strand, a junior, is helping create decorations for prom even though she won't be attending.

"We're making lanterns out of like papier mache that will light up," she said.

The work that started in January will all end next weekend, when students head to Vets at 8 a.m. to decorate.

"The kids usually leave around noonish," Burns said so they can get ready for their evening. "Then some staff and my husband will help me finish."