Clarke Central High School students attend 2024 Prom at 1055 Barber St. on April 27, 2024. CCHS senior Madison Hampton-Ellis attended Prom last year and is looking forward to this year’s event which will take place on April 25 at the same location. “Prom is fun. It’s always fun. Don’t be afraid to dance with your friends. Sometimes the music is kind of hit or miss, but if you really like a song, don’t be embarrassed,” Hampton-Ellis said. “Go have fun with your friends. The more people that dance, the more fun it is for everybody else. Enjoy the food. It’s free. Take lots of pictures. You will want them.” Photo by Grady Dunston
Clarke Central High School will be hosting Prom on April 25 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m at 1055 Barber St.
The theme for this year’s Prom, which will be held on April 25 at 1055 Barber St. from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., is Met Gala.
Clarke Central High School special education department teacher Latoya Jewell is this year’s Prom Coordinator after co-chairing with CCHS Counseling Secretary Kelly Savage for the 2024 Prom. She is in charge of coordinating and planning the event, conducting tasks such as being in charge of catering, the DJ service and paying for event spaces.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to the most, getting to spend half a day with my friends.”
— Madison Hampton-Ellis,
CCHS senior
“We coordinate with the (Student Government Association), and the SGA team actually comes up with a series of themes,” Jewell said. “(From there), we narrow them down, and then we pick and vote on it in SGA, (then) that becomes our theme.”
This year’s theme means there is no specific dress code or color, instead, students are encouraged to express their inner selves through their outfits. Clarke Central High School senior Madison Hampton-Ellis attended the event last year, the theme of which was Great Gatsby, and is now looking forward to this year’s prom.
“You’re listening to music, having a really good time. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most, getting to spend half a day with my friends,” Hampton-Ellis said. “I’m looking forward to having a good final school dance with my friends.”
C Clarke Central High School students and guests attended CCHS’s 2024 “The Great Gatsby” took place at at 1055 Barber St. on April 27, 2024. English department teacher Meg Gauley volunteered to work her first CCHS Prom and enjoyed the evening. “I thought it was planned well. Everything from check-in to venue choice, to the food was perfect for the event,” Gauley said. “I also appreciated that so many teachers and admin. were present.” Photos by Grady Dunston, Violet Cantarella and Jazlyn Gonzalez
This year, tickets will have a starting price of $100, and as prom nears, those prices will slowly rise. According to Jewell, if students paid their dues as a junior, they do not have to pay again as a senior.
“People can get tickets (on) a site that we have uploaded. (It’s) a GoFan form and it’s only open to 11th and 12th graders. 10th and ninth graders only are able to come if they are invited,” Jewell said. “That also has to go through a procedure and protocol.”
Hampton-Ellis found prom to be intimidating as a junior and offered advice for those attending for the first time.
“Enjoy it. You’ll have another one next year anyways. So just have a good time. Don’t stress. If you don’t have a date, go with your friends. Wear whatever you want,” said Hampton-Ellis. “People wear all kinds of things to prom as long as it’s kind of formal. People will accept it. Don’t take it too seriously, because at the end of the day it’s just a school dance.”