photos by Sarah Byrne

By Elean Gersack

On Saturday, April 22, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) juniors dressed up, posed for pictures and took to the town in celebration the school’s very first prom.  The dance was held at Hudson Gardens in Littleton and was themed Midnight in Manhattan. 

Students danced beneath the lights and sounds of the city while enjoying the charm of the gardens on a beautiful, clear night.  One of the evenings highlights included the announcement of the Prom King and Queen.  Rock Canyon’s first royal court was called to order when Mark Rivet and Taylor Temby were crowned. 

As students danced into the night, countless parent volunteers transformed the high school into a Pirates of the Caribbean themed after prom party.  The entrance into the festivities was straight from a pirate movie.  Students climbed aboard a ship and took a slide to the ocean floor below.  There, they were greeted by treasures and sea creatures.   Makeshift graffiti on the walls from parents, siblings and friends wished the students fun during this memorable event. 

As students made their way across the ocean floor, a wooden sign-post directed them to a variety of activities including a tattoo parlor, a jewelry making table, a giant twister game, a massage hut, and a casino.  Caroline Owens, the mother of a RCHS junior, helped create “Message in a Bottle”.  A booth where students could write a message to a friend, place it in a bottle and have it delivered by the Student Council the following week at school. 

According to Sarah Byrne, mother of RCHS junior Sean Byrne, the after prom planning and decorating took well over six months.   “We started with a fashion show fundraiser and then it just kept going from there,” said Byrne.  I’m so glad they had a safe and fun place to party and that they all enjoyed it so much.”