Kat Piantka | Editor-in-Chief
May 26, 2026
On May 16th, 2026, SCHS upperclassmen hit the roads to Anaheim for prom at the Artic Center. Prom is a highly anticipated event full of festivities alongside friends, and for girls, this includes being able to find their dream prom dress. For seniors, it marks the beginning of the end of year senior events and is their last high school dance. If you attended every dance up until this point, that would be your 10th! This may be a bittersweet close to a chapter for some, but the day of chaos and the stressful weeks of plans, coordination, shopping, the picture frenzy at Pine’s Park, and the ordeal of getting ready might not be entirely missed. However, high school dances are more about the tradition and right of passage that they represent and being able to spend an evening with friends away from the stress of school, sports, and the hectic aspects of our lives.
The announcement of prom being held at the Artic Center in Anaheim aroused a lot of excitement from upperclassmen as the venue is distinguishable for its architecture, lights, and proximity to the Honda Center and Angel Stadium. Also, the addition of ASB releasing a google form for song requests received lots of praise as the music played was familiar and suggested songs that all students enjoy. As a result, the dance floor was lively throughout the night and because of the venue’s smaller size students were enticed to dance when typically students prefer to play poker, explore the venue, or talk to friends in one-off rooms with seating. Also, the magician received lots of praise from students and was a fun addition to the night. As someone who has attended every dance throughout their high school career, including the Glow Dance freshman year, these changes were positively recognized and created a more dynamic and fun atmosphere. Junior Taylor Ball shared that, “prom was fun, the DJ was good, and [she] loved that there were Auntie Anne’s pretzels.” This made for a great first prom for Ball!
However, some students expected the venue to be more overwhelming given the architecture and price of tickets. Students were also limited in the space they were allowed to be in as upstairs was blocked off, leaving prom attendees to dance at the entrance of the venue or to browse around the escalator. Senior Kai Wells expressed that “the event space was boring and crammed. Cool concept but bad execution.” Wells shared a common sentiment that a handful of attendees have also agreed upon.
There were also various options for refreshments and snacks with a soda bar, Auntie Anne’s pretzels, frozen yogurt, and the typical desserts; however, the food available at the venue was not advertised enough as many students were unaware of the options of snacks were in secluded and dark corners.
Regardless of the venue or incentives to keep students at events like dances, many upperclassmen, especially seniors, opt to leave at the first opportunity as many flock to after-parties or decide to not attend at all due to the price or would prefer to just attend pictures and dinner with friends. Unfortunately, school spirit, enthusiasm for events, and alternative plans will continue to affect participation at events and that may just be a general shift that cannot necessarily be changed with venues, food options, or fun activities.
Overall, prom 2026 was a memorable experience and received generally positive feedback from the student body. Remember, it’s not necessarily about the venue, the theme of the dance, or your attire, it’s about the time spent with friends and the memories made that evening. Also, a huge congratulations to the junior and senior Prom Kings and Queens!
Leave a Reply