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Both prom's grand march and the after-prom party will be done slightly different this year.

Just as in previous years, professional pictures will be taken of prom-goers in the auditorium from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday. But when prom-goers start arriving for the grand march at 4 p.m., they will take a new route into the school.

Prom-goers should turn into the south parking lot (or middle school parking lot) and then circle the lot and line up for the grand parade, which starts at 4:30 p.m. They will parade past the west side of the high school and to the north entrance (the fitness center/auditorium entrance). Valet parking will greet the prom-goers at this entrance.

Prom watchers, on the other hand, should park in the north student parking lot at PAHS.

The grand march is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in both the auditorium and the high school cafeteria. Due to the better sound and lighting and more elegant feel, the prom committee wanted the grand march to be held in the auditorium. Due to the limited seating (499 people), overflow seating will be available in the cafeteria.

Both the auditorium and cafeteria will be decorated according to the theme, "Treasured Times." Tickets to the auditorium during the grand march were pre-sold to prom-goers for their parents, friends, and family; tickets in the cafeteria cost $1, with all proceeds going to the after-prom party. Prom-goers will be announced both in the auditorium and in the cafeteria, said Gretchen O'Fallon, prom advisor this year with Mary Burlingame.

After the grand march, prom-goers will head to Richmond for a dinner and dance, returning just after midnight, when the after-prom party starts at PAHS. Prom-goers will be allowed to change clothes before the after-prom party begins in earnest. It is meant to be a safe alternative for students on prom night. All seniors and juniors at PAHS, as well as all prom-goers, can attend the after-prom party.

This year, the after-prom party will be slightly shorter, in response to student concerns about staying up all night, said DuDonne Andrie, who chairs the after-prom committee. As always, the after-prom party will feature food, music, and games in both gyms, but in the past students have gotten tired because prom is already a long day, she said.

So, instead of entertainment in the early hours of morning, the after-prom committee spent their money on larger door prizes, including two laptop computers as the grand prizes. The door prizes will be given away starting at 4 a.m. this year, with the students being sent home after that.

Juniors on the prom committee this year were: Hailey Bundy, Celia Frieler, Chelsey Kalkbrenner, Kristin Lang, Tina Liestman, Kristi Louis, Emily Mergen, Alex Naujokas, Kacy Nehowig, Kate Olsen, Sara Peterson, Kayla Rohe, Karla Schaefer, Meredith Schaumann, Jacque Schlangen, Cary Schlick, and Brittney Spanier, Members of the after-prom organizing committee were: Andrie, Cindy Gerding, Corrine Lieser, Mary Mackedanz, Claudette Nietfeld, Jim and Gretchen O'Fallon, and Julie Schlangen.