Serving as a chaperone for the senior prom was seen as a type of re-
ward for past service, for one was able to attend a fancy dress party in a
prime Manhattan location with excellent catering facilities. There were
two problems. Some staff members who indicated they would attend, did
not. Those who did come often congregated together at chaperone tables
instead of moving around the room monitoring shadowy niches and the
dance floor. As a result, the next year Mr. Chen sent a memo to the chap-
erones about a week before the prom (see figure 10.1).
Of course, he and his wife had to be role models at the prom and them-
selves supervise students. Mr. Chen usually spent the first part of the eve-
ning at the entry area to the prom to make sure only his students and their
invited guests were admitted (photo IDs were required). Unobtrusively,
To: [Names of prom chaperones]
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for volunteering to chaperone the senior prom. This is a very special evening
for our seniors, and your vigilance will help make it a safe and secure one.
The prom is on Saturday, June __ at the ________ Hotel, Broadway and ___ Street, 5th
floor. It will begin at 8:00 p.m. and end at 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Please try to arrive
by 7:30 p.m. If you are driving, allow extra time because the traffic in this area at this
time is horrendous. You are expected to remain until 1:00 a.m. or until al l the students
have safely left the premises.
On the reverse of this letter is a copy of the assignment sheet sent to you by the senior
advisor. Once the students enter the reception hall, all of us are assigned to supervision
of the hall. This means moving around as much as possible an d making sure that all is
going well. While we want to enjoy the prom ourselves and speak with students we
know, our main responsibility is making sure the experience is a safe one for our
students.
Finally, we are required to have a chaperone/student ratio. Having made a commitment
as a chaperone, it is necessary that you be there so that we have this required ratio. This
is a commitment on your part.
Thank you for your dedication to our students. I look forward to chaperoning the prom
with you.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
S. Chen, PrincipalFigure 10.1. Memo to Prom Chaperones
Monitor the Communication 135