This year North Augusta High School was unable to host a prom because of all the challenges and unknowns facing the world. Many students were upset that the school was not hosting a prom. However, after an interview with Mr. Murphy, the Principal of NAHS, he explained it was not the school's decision. He stated “As both a principal and a father of a NAHS student, I very much wanted to host a prom. While I was happy for the opportunity our students had Saturday night, I thought it was sad for our school that we were not officially sponsoring the event. For months I requested ideas on how we could effectively sponsor a prom, while following all guidelines, from students, parents, administration from our school and others, and the NAHS School Improvement Council. Needless to say, no one was able to offer any suggestions that were real possibilities. Ensuring mask-wearing, requiring social distancing, allowing limited numbers, and developing a way to effectively contact trace students after the event proved too much of an issue for our school district leadership to allow us to proceed. I understand their decision.”
However, many NAHS students were still devastated at the loss of their prom. Thus, a group of parents of Senior students decided to host and put on a non-school sponsored prom at the Municipal building for all North Augusta High School Seniors and Juniors. The prom was Saturday, April 24th, from 7 o’clock to 10 o'clock.
Many students were interviewed about the event in order to get a glimpse into what it was like. Aricka Moore, a junior at NAHS, said, “My plans before prom were to meet with two of my friends and eat dinner before. The morning of, I got my hair done and was preparing throughout the day. My sister did my makeup and the night before she did my nails.” Sean Fowley said, “The prom was planned well by NAHS parents and ran mostly smoothly. I am thankful for the parents that planned and hosted prom since NAHS was not going to host one” when asked how he felt about the Prom.
This year North Augusta will be hosting a new event, The Golden Gala. When asked about the event, Mr. Murphy said, “The Golden Gala was conceived to combine several events instead of the traditional prom. I created this event so that our students would celebrate due to the school district’s decision to not allow us to host a prom. Senior awards, guest speakers, yearbook video, yearbook dedication, graduation ticket distribution, dinner, and college signings will all take place at this event. Seniors are asked to dress in semi-formal attire with the idea that students would still have the opportunity to “dress up.” At the time I created this event, I wanted our students to still be able to experience the semi-formal attire of a prom since plans for a prom did not exist.”
When asked if there was anything else he would like to share, Mr. Murphy stated, “This has been an incredibly frustrating time for me as a principal and a father. As someone who loves and cherishes all NAHS’s traditions, I have been frequently blamed for events being altered or canceled. In each case, I was simply the messenger of the bad news due to the restrictions enacted by the Center for Disease Control, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, the SC Department of Education, and the Aiken County Public School District Leadership. I hope that next school year will allow us to host 100% capacity at athletic events, graduation, honors and awards programs, class meetings, Senior Breakfast, Baccalaureate, and Prom. It will be spectacular, if and when, we no longer have to wear masks and contact trace students that have acquired covid.” Throughout the changes the community and the high school continue to face, it’s important to remember the work of NAHS administration and leadership as they attempt to lead through these troubling times.
Photo Credit: Greer Worley
Pictured: Left to right; Emma Carter, Connor Hill, Jack Livingston, and Lia Murphy
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