This year’s Riverview High School prom will be unlike any other at a location unlike any other.

The district has planned a two-hour dinner at the Oakmont Country Club instead of the traditional four-hour dance on Friday, May 7.

“It’s going to be harder and not the same, but I think it’s really good that we’re at least able to have something,” said class officer Eleni Wyrick. “Our senior year, we really haven’t done anything except sit in our houses at our computers.

“It’s nice that we’re going to be able to have one event all together.”

Masks will be required at all times except for eating. There will be sanitation stations and social distancing is encouraged.

Students and parents will have to sign and submit a permission slip and covid waiver.

Students will be limited to six at a table instead of the traditional 12.

The theme is “An Enchanted Forest.” It is the same as last year’s event, which was canceled due to the pandemic.

“We took everything that we had set up for last prom and adapted to our situation now,” said Jake Killmeyer, a senior and fellow class officer. “We still have all the same supplies, same decorations. It’s all about making it safer. This will be one of the last times that we’ll be able to gather all together.

“Although it’s not going to be a regular dancing-around-and-party prom, it’s definitely going to be a gathering that we want to have. We’ll all be going to college, and most of us won’t have this opportunity again.”

Patsy Kvortek, dean of students and the junior and senior class sponsor, said school officials have been monitoring covid cases and state recommendations closely the past several months.

That led to officials putting the kibosh on dancing for student safety.

“We just cannot risk the possible spread of the virus with dancing,” she said. “By the beginning of March, we brought the seniors together and we made the decision that we would have something. It would not be the traditional prom that they’re used to, and these are the guidelines that have to be in place.”

Class officers said Riverview’s prom has been at different locations nearly every year — but never at the world-renowned golf course less than a mile from the high school, on the same street.

The class was able to reserve the country club with the help of senior Beth Shoop. Her parents are members and are sponsoring the event. Club staff will serve the food to minimize students walking around.

“It’s a much easier location for people to go to, especially because for how things have to be run this year,” Eleni said. “I think a lot of people are more comfortable with it.”

Capacity is limited to 120 students. The event is open to juniors and seniors, and sophomores and freshmen if invited. Some who graduated last year, as well as high school students from other districts, may attend if invited.

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