Life Skills Prom virtually connects districts for celebration

After COVID-19 closures cancelled last year’s multi-district Life Skills Prom and kept students from participating in field trips with their friends in other districts, Blue Ridge teacher Adele Bennett didn’t want another year to pass by without students experiencing prom fun. Bennett and her students set out to host the prom and bring the kids together – virtually.

“It was pretty easy,” Bennett said of pulling together the virtual prom. “We’re all on Zoom.” In addition to Blue Ridge, other districts connecting for the Life Skills Prom included Montrose, Elk Lake, Mountain View. The virtual link allowed a student who is not attending in-person classes to also join in, Bennett said.

The Life Skills Prom received support from the Blue Ridge administration and her students sent invitations out to the other school districts. Each school came up with their own theme for the day and planned their own food, music and dancing.

Blue Ridge students created their own music playlist of old-school dance and party favorites and made a shopping list for their chosen meal – spaghetti and meatballs with a salad. As for décor, the classroom was transformed with strings of lights to a “Princess and the Frog” Mardi Gras-style theme.

Throughout the mid-day event, the students danced and checked out what was happening at the proms at other schools and were even able to take some time pre-dance party to chat with a friend in another district.