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Prom - which is open to juniors and seniors, and to sophomores by invitation only - will start with the grand march in the high school gym at 5:30 p.m. Valet parking for prom goers will be available again at the west entrance to the high school, the entrance facing Highway 23, starting at 4:30 p.m.

This year, entrance for prom goers will be reversed. Prom goers are asked to enter via the south entrance (to the middle school parking lot) and drive north by PAHS to the grand march entrance, which will feature a red carpet to go with the theme of "Hollywood."

Prom watchers can park in the middle school parking lot or in the high school parking lot but they should not drive past the main entrance on the west side of PAHS. The grand march will start at 5:30 p.m., and all couples should be lined up by 5:15 p.m.

Admission to the grand march is $2 for adults and $1 for students. This money goes towards the after-prom party, an all-night gathering at the high school intended to be a safe alternative on prom night.

Already, 80 couples have signed up for prom, said organizer Diane Seegers. In an effort to make all juniors and seniors feel welcome at the prom, whether they have a date or not, invitations again were given to all juniors and seniors this year, added Seegers.

Prior to the grand march, a professional photographer will take prom pictures in the gym from 2 to 5 p.m. Prom goers can sign up for a photography appointment at school.

After the grand march, prom goers will travel by bus to the River Station in Richmond for dinner and a dance. They should leave Richmond around 12 midnight and return to PAHS shortly thereafter.

The junior class conducts a magazine drive each fall to raise money for the prom. Juniors who sell their quota of magazines can attend the prom with no additional cost. Juniors who do not sell their quota of magazines must pay - both as a junior and as a senior - a pro-rated amount based on their magazine sales.

Juniors on the organizing committee this year are: Katie Bertram, Ashley Frank, Amanda Halvorson, Kelly Herzberg, Amber Jensen, Ashley Lieser, Lynn Lieser, Shonda Martinson, Kayla Nelson, Katie Schlick, Amanda Skalicky, and Lindsey Wyffels. Junior Shawn Reinke is helping with lighting and technical details, added Seegers.

The after-prom party, organized by parents and other volunteers, will start at 12:30 a.m. All prom goers and all juniors and seniors, whether they attend prom or not, are invited to attend the party, which is free to students.

Once the buses come back from Richmond, prom goers will be allowed to go home and change clothes but the doors to the after-prom party will be locked around 1:30 a.m. After that, parents or guardians will be called and notified if a student wants to leave the party before dawn.

The after-prom party will include games, food, and music for the students, as well as door prizes throughout the night. In keeping with the "Hollywood" theme, the food committee has arranged to have a chocolate fountain at the after-prom party, said organizer DuDonne Andrie.

Other members of the organizing committee are: Sheryl Fuchs, Cindy Gerding, Sharon Glenz, Corrine Lieser, Mary Mackedanz, Claudette Nietfeld, Gretchen O'Fallon, Jim O'Fallon, and Julie Schlangen.

Any parent interested in volunteering to help at the after-prom party should contact a member of this organizing committee.

Once again, entertainment will be offered at 4 a.m. for the students. This year, another hypnotist is coming. Only volunteers will be hypnotized. After the entertainment, grand prizes will be distributed to the students, and then the students will be released from the after-prom party around 5:30 a.m.