This year’s Academy Ball is in full swing, with Student Government and the Prom Committee planning the decorations, menu and all the extras that go into making a wonderful night.

“From what I understand, Student Government is involved with the planning of the DJ, dismissal to the water park, ticket sales, booking of the Tundra Lodge and a whole lot more,” said senior Grace Fangman, a member of the Prom Committee.  “Prom Committee is in charge of making the decorations for prom, planning the event and selecting the food options.”

The Prom Committee has been meeting two times a week for a month to work on ideas and decorations to enhance the “Enchanted Bayou” theme.

This is the first year mass will be held, starting at 6 p.m., with all of the following events of the night continuing at the Tundra Lodge.

After mass, dinner will begin at 7 p.m., consisting of appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, and a build- your-own mashed potato and nacho bar. Dinner will not be served in a formal sit-down style; rather, it will be situated as a social-hour setting due to popular feedback on that arrangement last year.  Students will be able to stand while they eat with the goal being “to truly give you a chance to socialize.”

The dance will follow from 8 p.m. until midnight. There will be a valuables and bag check-in for the Post Ball activities.

Student Government asks that students be in the bag check-in line by 7:30 p.m. due to 7:30 being the latest you can arrive without approval. These items will not be accessible until the post-party begins.

Beginning at 6:45 p.m., a more secure valuables check-in will be established that can be accessed throughout the night.

There have been some changes involved in Post Ball this year, but Frau has communicated with Principal Patrick Browne to continue the tradition.

“Parents have always been a part of the supervision, but we have now added NDA faculty members as well,” said Frau.

Post Ball will begin at 11 p.m. and go until 2 a.m. with dismissals every ten minutes to attend the waterpark in order to ensure enough room in the changing room and to not disturb the guests.

Each student will receive 10 tokens for the arcade which also will be open. Then, at 12:30 a.m., pizza will be served.

There will be three different photo options throughout the night, one being free polaroid pictures until they run out. There also will be green screen photos from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for $1 per picture emailed to you.

Students can also opt for taking their own pictures at all the “wonderful places” around the Tundra Lodge.

Tickets can be purchased from April 15-18 for $40 for NDA students and $50 for guests. Cash or checks payable to Notre Dame Academy are accepted.

The actual price per person cost is approximately $60, according to Frau, but the cost of
Academy Ball is offset through ticket sales from other dances and the Academy Awards.

Our event also ends up being cheaper than other school’s due to its being held at an off-site location, which is not typically offered at other schools.