Dozens Volunteer for Oxford HS Post Prom 'Carnival'

They’ve spent two nights a week, or more than 190 hours, since September planning for one night of safe fun for their teenage children.

And they've spent more than 20 hours in just the past two days setting up for the post prom party, but you’ll never hear them complain.

Ask members of the Oxford High School Booster Club why they do it, and they’ll all give you the same answer: “It’s for the kids.”

Roughly 200 high school students spent their post prom Friday night in a carnival-type atmosphere set up in the school’s gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria, swimming pool and hallways. They played carnival-style games such as bean bag toss and the one where you pop a balloon with a dart. They ate popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy. They swam, played a version of Deal or No Deal, wrestled in a bounce house and were entertained by a hypnotist.

And they did it all without the influence of drugs or alcohol, which is the point of the post prom event.

Students have to check their bags at the door with one of the roughly 60 volunteers who volunteered on Friday, and teens cannot leave unless they have parental permission. (Volunteers talk to the parents to make sure.)

OHS Booster Club member Connie Adamski said a different theme is picked every year. This is the third year the event has been held; the first year’s theme was Hollywood Nights while last year it was Around the World. This year “Carnival” was the theme.

Booster Club treasurer Kathy Weisgable said the club budgets about $5,500 a year, money that is raised from concessions at games and other fundraisers. The booster club always comes in under budget because parents and others donate, she said.

The booster club recently got an $1,100 grant from Naugatuck Savings Bank, and Superintendent Edward “Ted” Malvey made a donation this week, Weisgable said.

Booster Club member Rebecca Seibert said they have almost 100 percent participation from the students who attend the junior/senior combined prom.

Tom Adamski, another booster club member, said seeing the students come through the door is fantastic.

“It makes it all worth it,” he said. “...Better they party here than party someplace uncontrolled.”