Life Skills student prom held Friday at Elk Lake

BY LISA ZACCAGNINO
Times-Shamrock Writer

Students danced the afternoon away next to a huge papier-mâché genie bottle Friday at Elk Lake High School.

The Warriors chose an Arabian Nights theme for a prom they will host for special needs students from Susquehanna and Lackawanna counties. Each year, area high schools take turns hosting the prom.

“It allows students from in or out of district who otherwise would not be able be to attend the prom for reasons such as transportation or distance to enjoy this high school rite of passage,” said Dorothy Callum, Elk Lake’s life skills teacher. Transportation is provided to the students.

Callum came up with the idea for the prom in 2012 during a Lackawanna Trail life skills class luncheon visit to Elk Lake. She

joked that Trail’s life skills teacher Erin Kropa should host it. Kropa loved the idea and ran with it.

Trail hosted the prom its first two years. Last year, 64 students attended the prom at Montrose Area High School.

This year, 55 students were expected to experience the oasis and sand dunes that sit under the night sky, with the genie bottle and a large elephant water fountain, planned by a committee including Kelly Severcool and Kyrston Swingle, senior co-chairwomen, and Mika Smith and Rachel Sprout, junior class co-chairwomen. Turns in a photo booth and dining inside a castle atmosphere, preceded dancing to tunes spun by DJ and Elk Lake student Sean Smith.

Each year a king and queen are chosen from names in a hat. Jonathan Morton and Brittany Veina won the honors last year. Brittany is excited about going back this year, noting, “We dance and do activities like hula hoop. We have lunch and see friends from other schools.”

This year Jaren Parker, of Montrose Area, was crowned king, and Ivy Adcraft, of Lackawanna Trail, was the prom queen.

Life skills students, Callum said, also have a hand in the prom, making gift bags, helping prepare programs, setting up and breaking down the props afterward. The latter is necessary this year so students can set up for Elk Lake’s next prom — Saturday night.

“It’s nice that we can do the extra effort a day earlier and they can enjoy it and have a nicely decorated prom with a cool scene,” Kelly said.

Noting that she’s “really proud to work with them,” Kristine Smith, the school’s prom steering adviser, said it’s the first time the committee has had to set up a prom two days in a row.

“Quite honestly, it feels like something that shouldn’t have to be asked of. All it is, is us doing the same work a day earlier, and everyone benefits from it,” Kelly said.

Most of the event is paid for out of the funds from the Life Skills Coffee Program, where student-made coffee and muffins are sold to Elk Lake staff members each Friday.

In addition to Elk Lake, participating districts include Blue Ridge, Lackawanna Trail, Mid Valley, Montrose and Mountain View.

A donation of kindness was given to Blue Ridge students, who used the funds to purchase flowers for the school’s attendees.

Liam Kildaire, of Montrose Area, said his favorite part of the day was the dancing, as he took a few turns around the dance floor with Elk Lake student council member, Lauren Vermeulen.

Elk Lake’s prom held Saturday night featured last year’s prom king, Ben Kwader, who was a member of Callum’s life skills class, passing his crown to his successor.

Staci Wilson, staff writer, contributed to this report.