Revere High School students attended an organized after-prom event at The Workz in Akron after the main event on April 26th.
After-prom featured activities such as card games, arcade games and karaoke, providing students with a safe place to gather after the dance. The school picks the after-prom locations, and after-prom is promoted throughout the hallways in the high school. Picking a location for the event is not an easy task, as many aspects are considered to choose the perfect spot. This year, Parent Teacher Staff Association volunteers Tricia Steiner, Shannon Graham, and Torina White chose The Workz. It is not the first time Revere uses the space, as an after-prom took place there last year as well.
“We were struggling to find somewhere for the after-prom last year, and then we came across The Workz and they have easy accessibility, so we were happy to take it,” Steiner said.
The 2024 after-prom was a success, with strong student interest. For 2025, the PTSA followed the same approach, recognizing that securing the venue was the top priority.
The PTSA volunteers help run both Promenade and after-prom. For the promenade event, decorations are provided to the high school, and the volunteers are responsible for organizing various details. Promenade takes place at RHS before students leave for prom.
“We scheduled the event back in July. We had to put a deposit down at The Workz. So we have been planning it since then, and we had our first meeting for the Promenade and after-prom committee in October,” Steiner said.
Promenade takes place at RHS right before students head off to prom; it is an event where students walk across the stage in the auditorium and are introduced with their selected date or friends. Parents, friends, and others are invited to come watch and share this moment with the students attending prom.
Decorations are set up in the main gym and auditorium for attendees to take pictures.
“For [the] Promenade, we used our personal supplies and reached out to friends to donate any other supplies needed,” White said.
The community provides most of the decorations for the Promenade. From the support of the community, senior students and other attendees. The setup also gives students designated areas to take photographs before and after walking across the stage.
The students had a variety of activities to do at the after-prom. For example, there were money prizes, bowling, arcade games, karaoke and much more. To enter the event, students had to buy a ticket.
“We get money from the tickets, [and it] helps a little, but the bulk of the fundraising comes from parent donations. And we also send out letters to community businesses and organizations, so we get a lot of support from local businesses in Richfield and Bath,” Steiner said.
Fundraising the after-prom comes with dedication. The help of the community is the key to ensure a special night with important funding for the high schoolers.
“I was going door to door, making phone calls, sending emails. Although the Bath Veterinary Clinic is a business we can always count on to support the school system,” Graham said.
The volunteers involved in planning the after-prom work diligently in fundraising enough money. They have to spend time with all the concepts that make after-prom great.
“We begin planning in January, but [we] feel we should begin planning a year prior because it gives the opportunity to receive the feedback from the next senior class on how they want their prom to be. The seniors should have their choice of venue and activity,” White said
Early planning allows the committee to organize venue selection, fundraising and activities in a more efficient timeline. Gathering feedback from students provides information to help coordinate the Promenade and after-prom events according to each senior class’s preferences.
“I believe the kids were excited about the gift cards that they received, because it was random, they would randomly spin the wheel and a student would win ten dollars to Starbucks and so there was a lot of excitement over that,” Graham said.
The students look forward to a safe and enjoyable space to gather after the dance. It’s a chance for them to unwind and have fun in a different setting from the usual school environment. The excitement builds as they look forward to a variety of games, activities, and prizes that offer a refreshing change and create lasting memories with friends.
