Last weekend, Randolph-Henry High School held its annual prom in the Central Middle School cafeteria.

For anyone who has ever attended high school, prom has been a long-held rite of passage for teenagers all over the country.

Merriam-Webster describes prom as “a formal dance for high school students usually at the end of the school year.”

For many seniors, prom is the last opportunity to gather with old friends before heading off to separate colleges or the workforce.

The amount of student involvement and preparation put into creating a special night to remember for local students should certainly be commended.

Randolph-Henry’s BLOG (Be Leaders of our Generation) group did an exceptional job educating the student body on safety precautions leading up to the week of prom.

While prom should be a fun night for all students, safety is always a number one priority to ensure everyone has a positive experience surrounding the occasion.

The school system did a good job placing a specific emphasis on the fact that prom is indeed a night for the students.

Although many excited parents, friends and relatives filled the middle school bus court to snap photos of prom goers, no parents or outside visitors were allowed in the dance. Consequently, this allows students at least one night to just be with their friends.

Certainly, anyone that has ever attended a local prom has a special memory that will always stick out in their minds.

From the beginning of the school year, many students work towards finding the perfect dress or the perfect date to accompany them on the occasion. Prom has always been sought out as the big event of the year.

Charlotte County Public Schools and the students deserve to be commemorated for their hard work giving local students a well-deserved night of fun.

Italia Gregory is a staff reporter for The Charlotte Gazette. Her email address is italia.gregory@thecharlottegazette.com.