Ocean City High School After Prom Creates More Great Memories

By Maddy Vitale When you walk into a high school the thoughts of tropical breezes and paradise don’t really come to mind. But then again, you haven’t been to the Ocean City High School. At least not Saturday night, when the high school was transformed into just that for After Prom 2018. This year’s theme, “Aloha,” gave hundreds of promgoers who were bused over after their memorable night at the historic Flanders Hotel, more reasons to love their school. Students were greeted at the door with a lei and ushered down a beautifully-decorated walk. After that, their post-prom festivities included music, dancing, prizes and as much food as anyone could want from pizza to candy and ice cream. Josh Leeds, a senior, took his chances on the mechanical shark. The crowd cheered him on as he rivaled any bull rider - at least with staying power – lasting well over eight seconds before taking a spill. For Gabriella DiMarco, a junior, and her date Anthony Stanziani, a senior, when it came to games they were all business. “I can talk to you about it after I play,” DiMarco said, before taking her best guesses at the card game High Low. When DiMarco was done, she joked, “It seems easy, but it’s not.” Then there was the hula hoop game, where you have to scoop up an orange between your legs, hop with it and get it in the hoop. The winner of the two-person game is the one who gets in the most oranges. Ocean City High School students Gabriella DiMarco and Anthony Stanziani take their chances on some card games. Some serious basketball-like games were being played, in a bounce house, by senior TJ Rumer and about 10 other students. But if you wanted to look your best into the wee hours, you could do what a lot of students did, line up to get their faces painted mermaid-style by BowFish Kids, a boutique on Asbury Avenue that glams, and glitters faces as a special treat. Kaitlyn Healey, a senior, her date Jake Lamonaca, a senior at Holy Spirit High School and Healey’s friend and fellow Ocean City High School student Bianca Brasslett, had a great time eating ice cream and enjoying the After Prom scene. “It’s so fun,” Healey said. “It’s a great way to celebrate with everyone and be safe. Our parents do a great job putting this together.” Brasslett echoed her friend’s sentiment and added, “This is the best way to celebrate the end of a school year and be with all of your friends.” Tanya Philippou, a substitute teacher in Absecon, was one of over 120 people who volunteered to help make the students’ After Prom a fun and safe night. “It is so awesome. Everyone pitches in in this community,” Phillippou said. The event is organized every year by Jennifer Bowman and her husband Charles and Amy Holmes and her husband Bill, all OCHS grads. Bowman was rushing around but stopped for a moment to emphasize the significance of the night. “It is for the kids, so they have a safe and fun place to go after the prom,” Bowman said. She said After Prom is an important alternative for a student who may not want to go with his or her date somewhere else. The cafeteria turns into a dance floor when the DJ plays his most well known songs Bill Heap volunteers for After Prom every year. He said it is such a vital part of the prom experience because it provides a safe place for the youth to have fun. He said the credit for the event should really go to the Bowman and Holmes families. The alcohol-free event for Ocean City high school students has been an event for the students since 1995. Ocean City High School Assistant Principal Wendy O’Neal got out of her prom attire and right into game gear, to help with the event. “This is the best part of the night,” O’Neal said. “A lot of effort and energy went into this.” School Business Administrator Tim Kelley also volunteered. Wearing a red OCHS volunteer shirt, he pitched in everywhere needed and had a lot of fun doing it. But out of all the administration, it seemed Ocean City High School Principal Matt Jamison really had a blast. He helped the kids navigate the “limbo bar” – which was really a swim noodle. Jamison held one side of it carefully and steadily as a line of students streamed through it, some having an easier time of it than others, which created eruptions of laughter. The After Prom officially began at 11 p.m., right when the prom ended and went until 4 a.m. for the hearty. The decorations were done by the After Prom committee and the event was complete with a “cafeteria” and a coffee bar, where students could see themselves on a video of their stroll into the Flanders Hotel. Sara Lee, in charge of After Prom games, said the volunteers start work on the next After Prom literally right after the current one. Even Dr. Jamison got in on the after prom fun It is a lot of work, she said with a smile. But the result, is worth it, she said. “Look at all of the volunteers and so many businesses sponsor this,” Lee said. “This is a great community.” Many area businesses donated gift cards. Sponsors include: Miss Night in Venice Pageant Committee Ocean City Board of Education Ocean City-Upper Township Municipal Alliance Committee Sea Isle City Board of Education Gillian’s Wonderland Pier Playland’s Castaway Cove Check out all of our Red Carpet, Prom, and After Prom pictures on our Facebook page.