Prom 2025: Secret Garden

2025/5/29

By: George Wang, Hugo Chan & Kaishu Klein

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Every year, the student council organises a prom for high school students. This year it took place at the Lazor Garden Sapporo with the theme being: Mission Impossible. Prom Night 2025 was about making friends, having fun, dancing out your soul, and nurturing the human spirit. This year, the theme of Prom was extremely emphasized, with a full-out mission (indeed proved itself to be nearly impossible!) set up by the whole STUCO to find the impostor. Students outside of HIS were also allowed to be invited along, and hence the theme, couples attending together could be partners in crime.

The students took the bus at 4:30 pm from school to head off for the exciting night. As if walking into a crime scene, the stairs leading to the dance floor were covered with yellow tape saying keep out like actual crime scenes. As students got seated in their allocated spots, they were each given an envelope containing a mission. One of four roles was assigned: Criminal, Civilian, Investigator, or Personal Agent. Prom officially kicked off at 5:30, with a video explaining the rules: there are 5 imposters among the 50 students at the event, and students could complete tasks and receive clues about the identity of the criminals. At the end of the day, if the students discovered the identities of all 5 imposters, then the Mission would be complete, but if these 5 imposters were not found at the end of the event, they would win and claim a prize. At the end of the introduction, Mr. Pangier (AKA: Kaizen-Sama) was shot and lay dead (fake of course and premeditated with Mr. Pangier as a willing victim of the act) on the ground! Students instantly realised the seriousness of this Mission, as it was said that if they do not find the crime boss soon, there will be more cases of murder committed. 

Dinner followed, and it was the first time that some students experienced this type of fancy food serving - small quantities of a variety of different dishes were served every few minutes. During the Dinner, the rock band performed an absolute shockwave of a show. The Rock band members included Marie on vocals, Luke on Piano, Ewan on bass, Theo on guitar, and Alex on drums. One memorable song was Until I found you, since everybody knew the song, people sang along with the band and symphonized the whole environment. 

As the band’s phenomenal performance ended, the photo booth opened up, where students went to take photos and make memories to last a lifetime. Some students decided to focus on the task while others decided to enjoy the prom to the fullest. Students went around collecting clues and doing challenges, while others socialised and tried to find other people’s roles. The criminals attempted to hide themselves while the other students attempted to find their identities. The game was tense and exciting until the very end, with a dance break in between. 

The dance was the main event of the prom, where everyone let loose on the dance floor. People were enjoying themselves dancing to songs such as Ganam style and other iconic pop songs. Students showed off their dance moves during the dance, while some others opted to take photos outside. Students made valuable memories that hopefully will stay with them for the rest of their lives. 

After the dance, the results of the game were finally announced. After hours of hard work from students and the criminals, the results were finally revealed. Sadly, the criminals won, but everyone had a great time and a lot of fun. Students had an amazing time looking for clues, but the criminals were just craftier. In the end, everyone was a winner, as having fun was the most important part of the prom. The game was extremely well thought out and was extremely entertaining for everyone who was present. 

Prom was made possible by our amazing student council of Hokkaido International School. All the members will be remembered for this amazing event and will certainly leave a lasting legacy for the 24/25 student council. The chaperones of this event also contributed greatly to the prom and would not have run as smoothly without them, and of course, you can’t forget the staff of the Lazar Garden, who did the catering and drinks bar. The food was amazing, and people wouldn’t have survived the dance floor without the drinks bar. 

In conclusion, the school prom stands as a memorable milestone in the lives of students, symbolising the culmination of years of hard work, friendships, and shared experiences. This amazing evening not only allows students to celebrate their accomplishments but also to create lasting memories with their peers. The excitement of dressing up, the thrill of dancing, solving the mysteries, and the joy of connecting with friends foster a sense of community and belonging that is vital during these formative years. As students step into the future, the lessons learned and friendships forged during prom will undoubtedly echo throughout their lives, or hopefully the rest of their high school career. Ultimately, the prom is not just a celebration; it is a rite of passage that encapsulates the spirit of youth and the bittersweet nature of growing up and maturing. As the final song plays and the lights dim, the echoes of laughter and joy will linger, reminding everyone that these moments are truly priceless and should be cherished. Prom shows us how fast time passes when enjoying yourself; the time you spend with your friends and family should be treasured.