The “Mamma Mia!”-themed prom is coming up, and there have been some changes. Student Council switched up venues, and the dance will be at the Brew House at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, April 12.
“We have been working with Children’s Mercy for a while,” Student Council president Eleanor Hihath said. “I am very excited to have the venue at Children’s Mercy Park. There are many more things we will have this year.”
The venue package came with snack food, like desserts and drinks.
“There will be lots of fun drinks and desserts,” Student Council sponsor McKay Lannigan said.
The Brew House has flexible seating arrangements as well as 30 high-definition TVs, indoors and outdoors spaces, catering Area and Wi-Fi. Lannigan said tickets will go on sale March 17 and will be $40 per person.
Lannigan said Student Council was working with the venue to try to get parking spaces at Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Along with a venue change, the school set an attendance requirement for students – an 85% attendance rate or higher.
“Out of the 2,100 students enrolled, data shows that about 450 students fall short of the 85% mark,” activities director Brandon McCoy, Ed.D., said.
However, not all hope is lost. Students can submit an attendance appeal.
Some students already had an attendance appeal on file due to ongoing health concerns, family events, sports or recovery routines such as physical therapy. Roughly 50 to 60 students automatically had their appeal approved due to such conditions, leaving about 390 students who could be affected by the rule, according to McCoy.
McCoy said the administration’s goal was not to penalize students but to encourage them to take their academic responsibilities seriously. In turn, they could enjoy the social aspects of school life, like prom, without feeling like they had to choose one over the other.
In the weeks leading up to prom, the school planned to take proactive steps to help students understand the rules and how to avoid any issues, offering reminders about attendance, and for those who are struggling, guiding them through the appeals process.
The dance will be held April 12 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., and the top 10 prom king and queen candidates will be announced the week before spring break.
