Holy Heart planning 2nd all-inclusive prom

While tickets to prom can often cost more than $100, students at Holy Heart of Mary High School won't have to pay a cent this year.

For the second year in a row, the St. John's high school is planning an affordable "all-inclusive prom" so that everybody can attend, regardless of their financial situation.

"It's a financial burden that a lot of people don't always consider," said Grade 12 student Olivia Parsons, who headed the Holy Heart graduation committee last year and helped develop the idea.

"[This] really took a lot of the stress off the students at Holy Heart."

Students are holding a lottery fundraiser to pay for prom, where people can purchase $100 raffle tickets for a $10,000 grand prize.

All the money from the fundraiser will go back to the school to pay for decorations, food, and other expenses.

In previous years students had to pay roughly $75 for the dinner at a hotel or convention centre, and around $25 to the safe grad party afterwards.

Last year, however, Holy Heart reduced costs by holding the dinner in the school gym and the meet-and-greet at Brother Rice Junior HIgh.

"If we can control the environment and the costs then we're in a better position to have it here at the school, which is where it's meant to be," said school principal Sheldon Barry.

Barry says an all-inclusive prom will likely become the norm at Holy Heart.

"I think you'll see it long term," he said.

"Some of the personal stories we've heard from students about an all-inclusive with no fees certainly confirms that it's the right decision to make."