Wilmington Students Ready to Dance the Night Away

In just a few weeks, seniors will graduate and head in different directions. But on Friday night, they’ll be together in one place and in a festive mood.

Wilmington holds its senior prom on Friday night at in Danvers, and event that students look forward to throughout their final year at the school.

“The prom is definitely the biggest event of the year,” said faculty advisor Marissa Bortone, who helped organize the event along with Meghan Burns and others. “(Students) love the prom because it is a fun night that they get to share with their friends from Wilmington High School. I think they appreciate having the opportunity to share in something fun as a class before they all go their separate ways.”

Bortone said a great deal of work went into planning the event from choosing the venue to working out a menu, finding decorations, selling tickets, planning tables, and of course fundraising to make sure students don’t have to pay too much.

Because of the fundraising efforts this year, prom tickets cost $45 each, which is much lower than most years according to Bortone.

One of the most important aspects of the night is safety. In advance of the prom, every student participating was required to attend a Wildcat Project assembly with a parent. The evening stressed the importance of making safe decisions on prom night and avoiding drugs and alcohol.

“We are able to control what goes on at the prom itself, so that always goes smoothly. But our fears kick in once the kids are out of our hands for the night,” said Bortone. “Many administrators and teachers find it hard to sleep on prom night because we hope all of our students are using the tools we have given them, and their parents have given them, to make good decisions.”

For a different type of safety, the school will also provide a large amount of flip flops to female students. Bortone said in the past when girls have kicked off their shoes on the dance floor there have been cases of minor foot injuries, something the flip flops should prevent.

The evening kicks off before students arrive at Danversport. Continuing an annual tradition, the Promenade kicks off the festivities at 5 p.m. as prom-goers strut their stuff in front of family and friends. This year’s Promenade takes place at . 

“As a class advisor, it’s a busy night because we are always running around checking on a million different things,” said Bortone. “I still find that I enjoy the opportunity to spend some quality time with my students outside of the classroom. We are all given the chance to see our students in their element, which is really fun for us faculty. It’s great for faculty and students to share in a night that is designed for fun.”