This year, Conifer’s prom theme will be Top Gun and the dance will be held at the Wings Over the Rockies Airplane Hanger. Tickets are $70 per person, or $140 per couple, and drinks and small desserts will be supplied.
“We kind of just fell in love with the venue right away. I think the theme is really special, this year we were trying to appeal to a larger audience,” Conifer vice principal Becky Paschke said.
Paschke has helped plan prom for the last three years, past venues being the botanical gardens and the butterfly pavilion. The budget for this year is around $25,000, also including after prom, which will be held at Urban Air Trampoline Park.
“We tried Urban Air for the first time last year and it was the best attended after prom we’ve had in years. It’s really nice because it’s all inclusive where the kids get to do any of the activities. And being up here in the mountains, I think it will bring people back to their childhood, and they’ll get to cut loose and have a lot of fun,” Paschke said.
Food will also be supplied during after prom, including pizza, popcorn, and a soft drink.
“We booked the prom venues about a year and a half in advance, and so we’ve gone up to this venue multiple times. I think that the theme in particular will make it a lot of fun,” Conifer teacher and student government supervisor Owen Volzke said.
Student government consists of 42 students, and has played a major role in planning prom. The student government juniors are the most involved in the process, and decided on the theme and the venue. At prom, there will be airplane flight simulators in which students will be able to see what it’s like to fly a plane, and possibly even flip upside down.
“I think it’s a really fun theme. I think it’s unique. I don’t think a lot of schools have done a Top Gun theme, at least not to this extent,” Volzke said.
Near the beginning of the school year, student government went on a field trip to explore possible prom venues for the next few years, visiting places like Coors Field and the Aquarium, already starting to prepare for next year’s theme and location.
“I think the venue is really interesting. I just think the ways in which we’re trying to make the prom kind of out of the ordinary distinguishes it from other proms,” Volzke said.
Prom begins at 7:30 pm, and ends at 10:30 pm, and after prom begins at 11:00 pm and ends at 1:00 am. Students have the day off on Friday, April 25th, because Conifer has a teacher work day, which influenced the decision on what day prom would be.
“The preparations that the ladies make are part of the fun and so I want them to have a good time doing they’re hair to look great, and feeling good about it. So I’m glad that we did it that way,” Principal Greg Manier said.
Not only do the students have the day off on the day of prom, but this week is a spirit week as well. Spirit week is when students dress to fit a theme, however it doesn’t change the usual schedule. Monday’s theme is ‘rhyme without reason’, Tuesday’s is Adam Sandler, Wednesday’s theme is neon, and Thursday’s is Conifer day, in which students wear the school colors. Thursday is also Day Without Hate, a day where students wear white and promote ideas about peace within the community. The week leading up to prom is a way to get students excited and more deeply involved in school spirit.
“It’s going to be a really awesome event. I hope everyone can attend, it’s going to be one to remember,” Paschke said.
(Lanen Beightel)
