MVRHS and Windemere meet up for the ‘Senior Prom’

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Deborah Suneson, left, dances with Lucas DeBettencourt. — Sam Moore

On Sunday afternoon, students from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s High Honor Society donned their prom attire for the second weekend in a row, and paid a visit to the residents of Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for a night of music and dancing.

Phil Diettrich played the piano and sang 1940s Big Band hits with Betsy Gately on harmonies and Edson Rodgers on trumpet.

The event, which was the brainchild of senior Finnoula Howell in 2014, was organized by Betsy Burmeister of Windemere and MVRHS honor society advisor Mary MacDonald.

“The residents absolutely loved it,” Ms. Burmeister said in an email to The Times. “Just seeing the students all dressed up made them so incredibly happy. They are still talking about it. They asked to see the students dance together, and the students complied. How many memories came rushing back to our residents, remembering their own proms and their children’s proms. The boys were such gentlemen, asking our ladies to dance. Both the boys and the girls visited each resident, and spent time with them just talking. Those students have no idea how much that meant to the residents. Two hours of their time meant the world.”

On the way out, the students gave each resident a handcrafted bouquet.

“These students are a wonderful group of young people,” Ms. Burmeister said. “Kind, mature, giving, and so well brought-up. Their parents should be very proud.”