Schools still deciding on prom and graduation protocols

This year’s class of high school seniors will have a chance to participate in the traditional proms and graduations, although with a twist in most cases.

Last year, many proms were canceled and graduations delayed as the coronavirus pandemic entered the U. S. just months before the end of the school year, the traditional time the events usually take place.

School districts are now trying to figure out how to host safe events, with masks and social distancing included. In most cases, that will mean the exclusion of dates or any students who don’t attend the same school.

In Shelton’s case, distance learners will also be excluded from year- end activities. But students who opt back into inclass instruction by May 1 will once again have access to extracurriculars, including juniors and seniors looking for a chance to attend prom, the district said.

The junior prom will be May 21, and the senior prom will be held May 22, both at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury.

The Shelton school district has not set a date or location for this year’s graduation.

In Bridgeport, distance learners will be included in prom activities, although those plans are still in flux.

“We are working with all our high schools to plan our proms in the safest way possible for students,” said Superintendent Michael Testani. “We have not finalized any of the events but we will be holding proms for our students this year.”

He noted Bridgeport also will not allow prom dates from other schools.

“Our proms will be closed to students enrolled at the schools,” he said. “We have not discussed graduations yet. I am going to try and remain outdoors if possible."

Fairfield Public Schools has yet to make a decision about prom or graduation, said spokesperson Andrea Clark.

“We have not finalized plans yet,” she said in an email. “We are awaiting further guidance from ( the Department of Public Health and the state Department of Education) which should be coming in the next few weeks.”

Ansonia, meanwhile, plans on hosting its high school prom at the Villa Bianca in nearby Seymour.

Ansonia Superintendent Joe DiBacco said that the students will celebrate prom outdoors since the venue includes an outdoor space.

DiBacco said that prom and graduation are rites of passage and he sympathized with students who have had to deal with seeing their worlds turned upside down because of the pandemic.

Ansonia High School is still figuring out how they will celebrate graduation; DiBacco said the high school was considering celebrating it as a drive- up ceremony as done in 2020.

So far, he said, students are split between a drive up ceremony and celebrating graduation in person at Nolan Field. He said he will continue to gauge student reaction for a final decision.

As for Derby, the high school’s graduation will be held on June 14 at the Payden Park Football Field. Derby High School was forced to break up high school graduation into two ceremonies last year.

Derby confirmed the high school will celebrate prom but further planning is being ironed out with more details to come, officials said.

Monroe Superintendent Joseph Kobza said, as of right now, two proms have been scheduled for Masuk High School the weekend of May 21.

Kobza said a junior prom will be May 21, with the senior prom on May 22.

“The proms will be held outside under a tent on campus,” Kobza said. “We have not finalized any plans yet as we are waiting for further guidance from the State Department of Health as well as the Connecticut State Department of Education.”

As for graduation, Kobza said the district is waiting for guidance from the state as well but are hopeful to have an outdoor graduation which would look like previous years but with capacity, social distancing and other measures in place.

The Board of Education has not yet set the graduation date, Kobza said.

Seymour schools Superintendent Michael Wilson said the town’s plans for prom and graduation have not yet been worked out.

“We have been discussing it as an administrative team, but no formal decisions have yet to be made,” he said.

Wilson said that “all decisions will be based upon guidance from the state in terms of gatherings.”

“Currently, the guidance allows for us to move forward with an outdoor graduation,” he said.

In Milford, information on graduations is still under discussion, but prom is another matter.

Jonathan Law High School’s prom is slated for May 12 at Quassy Amusement park from 4: 30 p. m. to midnight. Catering and “some form of dancing” followed by a post prom with access to full park rides and attractions is planned. The event is for Law seniors only. Transportation will be provided from the school for the free event.

Foran High of Milford has set its prom for May 20 at Quassy Amusement park, with the same rules as Law’s prom.

In Trumbull, the high school prom is set for June 4 at the school football field and will be a tented event under the stars, organizers said. The event is open only to THS seniors; tents will be set up to accommodate 200 people as per gathering requirements. With 547 seniors, that means up to three tents, and no mingling between tents.

THS graduation is June 17. No details yet. Educators said they are waiting to see if the governor’s executive orders restricting inside and in- person events are allowed to expire on May 20.