Abby Silverman – Courtesy of Amy Jo Hyde

Prom, an elegant dance open to upperclassmen, is a long time tradition at BSM.

Prom is a celebration marking the end of seniors’ high school era, the last time the entire class gathers before graduation. With the location often changing year by year, seniors and juniors have options of attending the Grand March, dinner at the venue, and a DJ at the dance.

This year, Benilde-St. Margaret’s venue is The Beach Club with the theme, A Golden Knight at the Casino Royal, BSM’s 2025 prom theme, featuring poker tables, a photo booth, and a dinner buffet. In past years, BSM has had varying themes and venues; however, the one that stuck out the most to BSM alumnae and current French teacher, Amy Jo Hyde, was her prom in the 80s, held on the Anson Northrup boat on the Mississippi River, serving dinner and a dance! Additionally, in Hyde’s time, attendees stayed the entire night at prom and did not leave early, which is enforced today by faculty locking the doors from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. “I think since it’s prom and it’s $100 to go, it makes sense that you do stay for two and a half hours,” senior Tommy Staples said.

Grand March occurs right before prom in the Hamburg Theater, where students walk across the stage for photos with their friends or dates. Announced as they walk across, attendees can show off their dresses and tuxedos. “Grand March [did] not exist in the 80s when I was here from 85 to 89. But I love it, … both my kids got to do the Grand March, and it was fun for parents to be there because it was a great photo op. And they just basically walked down an elevated platform, and everyone clapped, and they introduced each couple, and it was so cute as a parent, I loved that,” BSM parent Amy Jo Hyde said.

Though prom is an upperclassmen event, and there are “unwritten rules” that only seniors attend the Grand March. However, some believe that for the actual dance, you should be able to bring whatever aged guest you want, no matter their age. “Last year, I wanted to bring a sophomore date, so I was super frustrated. I get that they want to keep it [upperclassmen], but I dislike it… If you’re [a sophomore] invited by someone, I feel like it should be fine,” senior Emily Niska said.

BSM prom coronation, where the prom court, king, and queen are announced, occurs during the week before the Saturday night of prom. All upperclassmen vote and attend the coronation, however, underclassmen do neither. Nonetheless, school-wide spring fling dress-ups occur all week leading up to prom for the whole school. Prom court has always been a tradition, but in the past, BSM featured a prom court for juniors as well. “Prom Court was fun. I got to be on the prom court my junior year … So then as the prom queen from junior year, I was able to then crown the [next year] junior girl [prom queen], …I think that [was] a fun tradition,” Hyde said.