Great expectations

During the planning process, several factors go into scheduling a high school prom.

Committees consider when their desired venue is available, exam and test schedules, athletic games and academic competitions.

But one Lowcountry high school had an additional decision to make this year.

"I told them I couldn't be there unless it was held early," Liz Boyd, head of the 107-student Upper School at Charleston Collegiate, says of their junior-senior prom.

Boyd, 34, and her husband, David Boyd, are expecting their first baby March 31.

Wearing a "maternity prom dress," she attended the school's prom March 6 at the Harbour Club and even spent some time on the dance floor strutting her stuff with the teenagers.

"The seniors have really worked with me on this," she says of her pregnancy. "We have pushed everything up this year."

When school started in August, she knew she would be a mother by the time the Class of 2010 received their diplomas. Having taught and coached at the school since 2001, she has watched many of the youngsters grow up, and she wanted to be there for the big events.

"I was wondering how I was going to manage to get through the year," she says. "I'm going to disappear for a while but I still have to make sure my work gets done."

In addition to her administrative duties, Boyd also co-teaches an Advanced Placement Literature class and does college counseling.

Her pregnancy became a year-long project for the high school students, with assemblies often opening with updates on Boyd's progress.

"The whole school has been very involved in this pregnancy," she says. "It's definitely been a fun atmosphere and has pulled us together."

It also has been educational, as students have asked lots of questions as the pregnancy has progressed, she says.

On the day Boyd had her ultrasound, she returned to school wearing a pink shirt as a way of letting the students know that she was having a girl.

"I also had a blue shirt in the car, just in case," she says. "Everyone wanted to know right away as soon as I found out."

She has listened to students make a case for this baby name or that one. Boyd has shared with the students the "short list" of possible names, but she and her husband have not made a final decision yet.

"Everyone wanted his or her name until we found out it's a girl," she says. "They even suggested putting all the students' names in a hat and drawing one out."

The students threw her a baby shower, giving her lots of pint-sized Charleston Collegiate gifts.

"It's been a lot of fun having the students so involved," Boyd says.

She plans to work as long as she can until her daughter is born. As she nears the end of the pregnancy, attention has shifted to the birth, with people placing bets on the baby's birth day.

"Some people put a lot of stock in the new moon," she says.

One event that couldn't be scheduled before the pregnancy was the school's May 22 graduation, which is held under the oak trees on the school's lawn.

Boyd plans to return on a part-time basis in May so that she can be there for the 24 seniors who will receive diplomas that day. Her mother, a retired educator who lives in North Carolina, will come to help with the baby.

"We had a meeting (last week) about the reception that's held after graduation," Boyd says. "We don't usually have that meeting until mid-April, but I wanted to get it done.

"We can't move graduation, but I will be back for it."

Brenda Rindge can be reached at 937-5713 or at brindge@postandcourier.com.