Written By: Izzy Bernie

When the Class of 2020 graduated from Rye Country Day School, they missed out on the milestone traditions that mark the end of one’s RCDS career due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these events include the Blue and Gold Dinner, where students are welcomed into the alumni community, the senior barbecue, and prom. On Friday, October 17, RCDS hosted a makeup prom for the Class of 2020 graduates, making good on a promise outlined five years ago. 

According to Director of Alumni Relations Mrs. Melissa Wirth, the makeup prom was part of a busy Wildcat Weekend that also included the Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony and class reunions. “Our office, along with the college counseling office, made a promise to the Class of 2020 when they were graduating that we would host a prom for them at their 5th year reunion,” she explained. 

Mr. Jeff Bates, the Director of College Counseling, was involved in the initiation of the idea and recalled how the promise began. “Everything got canceled,” he said. “They couldn’t do many of the things that I think everybody would argue are important milestone events in one’s high school experience. We told them that if they want to come back in five years, we’d throw them a prom, not expecting them all to want to come back.” However, shockingly nearly 60% of the class returned to campus. 

The event took place in the Black Box Theater, transformed into what Mr. Bates described as a “nightclub-ish kind of experience” complete with a DJ. “I mean, the theme was prom, right?” Mr. Bates said with a laugh. About 55 of the 96 graduates attended, and “They all dressed up for the most part, [in] semi-formal attire,” he recounted. 

For many attendees, the night represented more than just a long delayed party. Charlotte Price ‘20, one of the event organizers, described it as “incredibly special and almost surreal to walk the halls again and finally have the celebration we missed in 2020.” After the students lost the opportunity to experience many major events to COVID, she said, “being back together felt like we were closing a chapter that had been left open for five years.” Price helped plan the event alongside two other classmates, one of which also served as the class agent for alumni communication. She explains, “it was so rewarding to help shape an event that meant so much to our class. It truly felt less like planning a party and more like organizing a long-awaited reunion with old friends.”

The prom was also a well attended event by faculty and staff. Mr. Bates, Mrs. Wirth, Mr. Heintz, Dr. Krasovec, Mr. Kyle, Ms. Gioffree, Mr. Dunn, and several others came by to celebrate with their former students. When asked what moment of the night most stuck out to her, Price recalls, “a bunch of our former teachers showed up at the prom to reunite and say hi,” and continued on to mention that “seeing them so genuinely excited to celebrate with us made the night feel even more meaningful.” 

Parents, too, had a part in the evening. “I think the parents were extremely appreciative,” Mrs. Wirth said. “In fact, one of the parents went out and bought a number of the girls’ corsages.” The night carried the joy and traditions that normal proms do, and attendees had a night to remember.

While the prom was a highlight of the weekend, it was only part of the broader Wildcat Weekend and reunion festivities. The following night, the same group gathered for their official five year reunion, this time joined with more faculty and alumni from other classes. “what was nice about that weekend, though, is it was two nights of celebrating the class of 2020,” Mrs. Wirth said. 

Upon admiring the large turnout for the prom, a question surfaces: How were the event organizers able to contact so many of the former students? The event reflected the RCDS alumni office’s ongoing effort to stay connected with students. After graduation, Mrs. Wirth explained that seniors contribute to a document sharing personal emails and phone numbers so that the school can reach out with updates, internship opportunities, and reunion invitations. The Class Agents, which are elected by their peers, help maintain connections and keep the community engaged. 

For Price, the community connection is something worth continuing. “I appreciated the school’s commitment to keeping its promise and making this happen. It showed how much RCDS values community and how deeply they care about giving every class their moment to celebrate.” However, she did note that “Regular gatherings by class year or shared interest would be amazing, not just the big reunions,” when asked if she had any suggestions for how RCDS could stay better connected with alumni. 

The Class of 2020 prom may have arrived five years late, but its meaning was timeless. Together, the RCDS community saw an opportunity to acknowledge something important, and to finally give it the celebration it deserved.