Incoming seniors share prom with, well, seniors

The perfect outfit. The best music. Memories that will last a lifetime. 

When it comes to high school prom, these are some of the first things that come to mind. But six juniors from the Marble Hill School for International Studies are adding one more to that list: sharing that special prom date with residents from Park Gardens Rehab and Nursing Center.

“We know that some of the seniors never had a prom before,” said Emelyn Rosareo, 17. “So, it was so cute to help them and have a fun time with them.”

The plans for the dance started when Karen Baratta, the recreation director at the 6585 Broadway facility, talked with a group of the residents about their high school days. Many of them revealed to her that they never had the chance to attend a prom or any sort of high school dance. 

Baratta was saddened to hear those stories, and decided right there it was time to change that. She not only wanted to host a prom for Park Gardens residents, but she wanted to make it even more authentic by inviting actual high school students to join them. 

She had to look no further than the Marble Hill School, whose principal, Kirsten Larson, couldn’t be more ecstatic

“I was extremely lucky to find this high school that would do it with us,” Baratta said. “The principal was extremely excited, Ms. Larson. She thought it was a really cool idea, so that’s how that happened.” 

Larson knew from the moment she talked to Baratta her students would be perfect to join Park Gardens in hosting a prom.

“These students that are here, they volunteer all the time,” Larson said. “They’re way above the required 100 hours (for school), I’m sure they’ve done way more. These are students who will always help out, and that’s just a part of their nature.” 

Conscious of the fact elderly residents — especially those in nursing homes — often do not have a great deal of interaction with the outside world, the Marble Hill students were happy to brighten their day with a little bit of youthful fun.

“I used to work in a nursing home, so I’ve always had a soft side for the elderly,” said Liz Nanette Sanchez, 16. “I had a good experience, so it would be nice to come back.”

Like any prom, the afternoon at Park Gardens was filled with music, dancing and plenty of food. While the majority of the residents were in wheelchairs or used walkers, that didn’t stop them. They held hands with the teens and their Park Gardens caregivers, swaying to the beat, moved by the music.

And no prom would be complete without a king and queen. The afternoon’s lucky winners were Carl Alexander, 82, and Marion Dolan, 86. After they each received their sashes, the two danced together to the classic love song “At Last” by Etta James.

“Oh, it was marvelous, I was thrilled to death,” Dolan said. 

“I couldn’t believe they picked me” as queen.

The royal couple weren’t the only ones feeling young again. Theresa Odom was excited by the opportunity to relive her youth.

“It made me feel like I was when I was a teenager myself,” the 64-year-old said. “It made me feel really good (and) really proud that I could still dance, even though I’m in a wheelchair.”

While this is the first time the Park Gardens Senior/Senior Prom has taken place, those involved hope to make it an annual event to build a bridge between the community’s elderly and youth.

“The simplest act of just holding someone’s hand, smiling, dancing — whether it be the person is in a wheelchair or standing — what joy it can bring,” Larson said. “And you can see by (the kids’) faces that it brings them joy, too.”