Prom is one of the biggest events of the year for students. It’s a chance to celebrate how far they’ve come since the beginning of the school year, while also having fun with classmates and friends. It’s an exciting environment, and this year’s prom, with a northern lights theme, ended up being no different, with many students having a great time.

Prom is organized by Christy Judd and Erin Sharpe, who have been in charge of the event since around 2020. They are responsible for setting everything up ahead of time so it’s ready for the students to participate. “Prom takes several weeks to put together.” Explained Judd. “My students in 201 put together the Prom Favors and help with the decoration prior to Prom, each year the venue is set up and decorated differently.”

Not everyone who attends the prom needs to be attending Valley. Every Valley student can pay to bring one guest from outside the school to party with them, regardless of what school they attend. “Everyone there was having a great time and they all seemed very nice!” Said Brynnley Thomson, the younger sister of senior Aynsley Thomson.

There is more to Prom than just meeting up with friends. At Prom, students are able to dance, eat food and take memorable photos to remember their time here. “Highlights were taking photos, dinner and having a fun night away from school.” Said Senior Kate Schwartz.

Senior David Basil-Barker stated that he thought some highlights of the night were “The songs that they played.”

Not every student ends up attending prom. There are times where they can’t due to outside responsibilities or choose not to. “My attention was always diverted towards school or home stuff so I never thought too much about it.” Explained Junior Johnathan Summers, who was absent from this year’s celebration.

Summers later stated that while he missed it this year, he plans on showing up to next year’s prom. “Next year is my last year of high school and it seems like an event I would not want to miss out on.”

Prom comes and goes every year, and it’s important to reflect back on the experiences that come with it. It’s not just a night about having a fun night, it’s also about celebrating their growth throughout the year.

“I love seeing how much fun the students have each year.” Said Judd. “We are so lucky that our Valley students enjoy and attend the prom.”