8th Grade Proms/Formals

[hereyago]

DD has a 8th grade dance, but not sure yet how formal it will be as it is near the end of the year.

Not even sure she wants to go, she stopped going to the dances the past few times they had them.

If she wants to go and it's formal, I'll have her pick out a dress, she will get her nails done. There wouldn't be a limo, the school is like 7 minutes away at most.

 

[Poohforyou]

Our middle school has an 8th grade dance but there is a stricken policy of no dates, no limos and no hoochy dresses. I'm really glad our district put a stop to that nonsense. What will hs prom be if 8th grade has all that it does?

 

[luvsJack]

"Prom" may be what the kids call it and the school's term is "formal".

When my sons were in school, we (the parents) just gave them a big dance right after their graduation ceremony. So this is kind of new.

The limo thing has gotten a little out of hand around here for some reason. The homecoming court was brought to the school in a limo, too and I am sure those are some of the same kids whose parents will rent one.

And from seeing the pictures from last year--the boys wear tuxes and the girls wear formal dresses. They will be required to wear a dress or shirt and tie at graduation, but there was a big difference.

I really sort of hope they decide to tone it down this year and just have a dance without all the hoopla.

With Show Choir, her 8th grade portraits, yearbook, yearbook 8th grade ad, prom dress, prom pictures and graduation--8th grade is going to be almost as expensive as Senior year!!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Our school has a dance for the 8th graders in the winter but it's not formal at all. It's actually after school too and the parents have to pick up the kids at 6pm.

When my son was in 8th grade, he didn't go.

 

[Magic Mom]

With Show Choir, her 8th grade portraits, yearbook, yearbook 8th grade ad, prom dress, prom pictures and graduation--8th grade is going to be almost as expensive as Senior year!!!

Say it with me "No." Noooooo. You can do it. Be strong. Noooo " professional prom" pictures...you can do it.

 

[Poohforyou]

"Prom" may be what the kids call it and the school's term is "formal".

When my sons were in school, we (the parents) just gave them a big dance right after their graduation ceremony. So this is kind of new.

The limo thing has gotten a little out of hand around here for some reason. The homecoming court was brought to the school in a limo, too and I am sure those are some of the same kids whose parents will rent one.

And from seeing the pictures from last year--the boys wear tuxes and the girls wear formal dresses. They will be required to wear a dress or shirt and tie at graduation, but there was a big difference.

I really sort of hope they decide to tone it down this year and just have a dance without all the hoopla.

With Show Choir, her 8th grade portraits, yearbook, yearbook 8th grade ad, prom dress, prom pictures and graduation--8th grade is going to be almost as expensive as Senior year!!!

This is exactly why 8th grade shouldn't be treated like senior year. What will the kids expect then? If parents just started saying no or enough is enough things wouldn't be so overdone.

 

[jen0610]

Say it with me "No." Noooooo. You can do it. Be strong. Noooo " professional prom" pictures...you can do it.

My mom spoils my DD. And DD knows she does it. I keep telling my mom, in front of DD, there is this great little word. Learn it, Use it, and love it. It'll save you sooo much wear and tear on your wallet. It a simple - Noooooooooo.

I tell her, ask DD why she comes to you with hints for this or that. It's because she's already tried it on me and DH ( although DH can crumble if I'm not around, as she has daddy wrapped around her little finger) and we have used the "word". She's now gone on to the sucker with the neon "open line of credit" light blinking on her forehead. She knows you won't say it or if you do say it, you don't mean it and break down and get it for her any how. She working you.

 

[aprilgail2]

Our Jr High has an 8th grade dance. Kids come with dates - of course not every kid has a date so some come in groups- they wear gowns or fancy type dresses and the boys were suits or some just come in slacks and a dress shirt. The girls with dates usually are the ones that come with corsages since the boys get them for them.
No limos are allowed but most of the girls leave school half day to get their hair done and mani/pedis. No parents are allowed at the dance and the kids are not allowed to leave the building and come back in-if they leave they have to stay out so no going out and sneaking alcohol or smoking a joint and coming back in.
When its time to go home parents just park in the parking lots and the kids come out and find their car to go home.

 

[leebee]

I work in a K-8 school that used to have an "8th grade semi" at the end of the year, on the Friday before graduation. It was ridiculous. Girls would leave school early to have their hair and nails (and tans) done. Most wore full formal dresses, or teensy hootchie dresses. Boys in tuxes or suits. Dates, flowers, professional photography, dinners out, and limos... lots of limos. The actual dance was in the gym from 8-11, with a DJ. Although it was never policy, and nobody was openly mean about it, it was clearly known that if you weren't dressed to the nines and didn't go all out, you wouldn't be comfortable at the dance. It was craziness, let me tell you, and screamingly expensive, which was getting to be a problem for the many families who were struggling to make ends meet. The school board finally put an end to the nonsense. The first year of "no semi" was ugly... kids pitching fits when it was announced, boycotting the middle school end of year dance that was substituted, etc. One family actually rented a function hall and invited the 8th graders to have their semi there, at their expense. Not sure who was madder about the whole change, the girls or their mothers. By the next year, all the hoopla had died down. This spring will be the 3rd year without a semi and it's not even a blip in anyone's memory.

If only the sanity would extend to graduation...

 

[Southernmiss]

After 8th grade oldest DS had a "moving on" ceremony--8th grade graduation and then a dance at the 9th grade school's gym which was on another campus.

Boys wore suits and shirts and ties, girls wore party dresses--no long gowns.

Some parents rented a stretch hummer limo and about 20 kids were invited to ride in the limo. DS one of them--I thought it was all a bit much for 8th grade--and was of the mind what do they have to look forward to for high school until just now.

That's when I remembered that this was the last time DS saw one of his best friends, who was a triplett, who drowned later that summer. DS is now a senior and the shock and grief of that boy's death still affects DS today. ((He just came in tonight talking about his senior class doing something special to remember this friend and other classmates who died through their years together.)) ((This was the first time DS experienced the death of a peer and it happened on dS's birthday.))

I will never forget the 3 brothers on stage getting their 8th grade certificates with their arms around each other.

So yea, it's a bit much, but our kids are our kids only for a short while.

 

[luvsJack]

Say it with me "No." Noooooo. You can do it. Be strong. Noooo " professional prom" pictures...you can do it.

I know, I really should say no. I really should.

I will quit looking at the pictures this lady makes and that will make me stronger. I just LOVE the pictures she does.

Already have her set up to make the grandkids pictures too!

 

[luvsJack]

After 8th grade oldest DS had a "moving on" ceremony--8th grade graduation and then a dance at the 9th grade school's gym which was on another campus.

Boys wore suits and shirts and ties, girls wore party dresses--no long gowns.

Some parents rented a stretch hummer limo and about 20 kids were invited to ride in the limo. DS one of them--I thought it was all a bit much for 8th grade--and was of the mind what do they have to look forward to for high school until just now.

That's when I remembered that this was the last time DS saw one of his best friends, who was a triplett, who drowned later that summer. DS is now a senior and the shock and grief of that boy's death still affects DS today. ((He just came in tonight talking about his senior class doing something special to remember this friend and other classmates who died through their years together.)) ((This was the first time DS experienced the death of a peer and it happened on dS's birthday.))

I will never forget the 3 brothers on stage getting their 8th grade certificates with their arms around each other.

So yea, it's a bit much, but our kids are our kids only for a short while.

That is certainly another way to think about! My oldest son lost a good friend in 9th grade so I can understand how hard it is on your son and the other classmates.

Some of these kids have been in school together since K. Most will go to the same high school, but some will not. So, for some it will be a goodbye.

Whatever the school decides, prom or dance, we just need to find a happy medium so that all the kids can go and enjoy themselves.

 

[Magic Mom]

I know, I really should say no. I really should.

I will quit looking at the pictures this lady makes and that will make me stronger. I just LOVE the pictures she does.

Already have her set up to make the grandkids pictures too!

oooh maybe you could include a few shots of DD in her fancy dress when you have the grandkid's pictures done....

 

[luvsJack]

oooh maybe you could include a few shots of DD in her fancy dress when you have the grandkid's pictures done....

That's not a bad idea! And then I would only have the one sitting fee! I may talk to her about that! Thanks!