Prom is cancelled in Whitby, ON. It’s like Coronavirus part 2.

[hardcorestitch]

No defendable reason. No compassion. Just cancelled. Someone’s getting resigned soon.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...st-schools-decision-to-axe-end-of-year-event/

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I'm guessing there's a lot more to it then "prom is cancelled".

Clearly something happened during last prom to prompt this.
Plus kinda sounds like the school is sick and tired of prom having to be bigger and better each year outdoing themselves because the kids are used to that kind of customization and mentality with their parents throwing parties etc.
The school is probably having a hard time funding what the kids want.

They should have prom with conditions in place and a budget.

And if they truly want to phase out prom then I'd say do it starting with those who have not reached high school.
So prepare them now for in 5 years from now we will not longer have proms.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Actually there was no prior incident caused by students in context to discipline that caused them to make the decision.

 

[lanejudy]

Actually there was no prior incident caused by students in context to discipline that caused them to make the decision.

A student stated something like "no real incident" but the school (district?) has a different opinion:

the event was made due to the “growing expectations, liabilities, and risks” connected to the event, all of which have made it “increasingly difficult to continue” hosting them.​

I agree with PP that there is definitely more to the story and likely the students (if not the families too) are well aware of the situation.

This quote with "again" makes me think there's been an ongoing situation:

“Prom was taken away from us, right? At some point, it was gone, and we thought that it wasn’t going to happen again, until people stepped up. I feel like we deserve to be compensated for that, and in return, have a prom that we’ll never forget,” Gatti said.​

Prom here is limited to grades 11+12; grades 9+10 can only attend as a guest of an older student. There is a budget based on fundraising the Junior class has done in the first 2+ years of school; I'm not sure if there is any additional $$ kicked in by the school but I don't think so (other than it's an official school event and thus covered by their insurance, rules, etc.).

 

[Nayan]

I hate to say this, but one possibility is there was a credible threat made and they've decided to cancel without saying anything while it's being investigated. Sad we even have to think that way, but threats of violence are real and if that's the case it sucks for the students but I fully understand.

 

[michellev]

The article suggests that the school board is looking into it (3 high schools in the board cancelled prom), so hopefully it will be reinstated. My friend's son, who is in Grade 12 at one of the impacted schools, is incredibly disappointed. Prom is a lot of work for the school to put together, so I am wondering if that is a factor. Schools need teachers to volunteer their time to run the Prom Committee, and I know it takes a lot of work to organize.

 

[NAB]

Weird that it is only 3 high schools listed not the whole school board so it has to do with the schools themselves.

 

[Turn the Page]

If the school won't sponsor a prom is there any reason why the parents can't organize it themselves? That's what our district did when dances were cancelled due to COVID. The parents pitched a fit and put one on themselves.

 

[hardcorestitch]

The article suggests that the school board is looking into it (3 high schools in the board cancelled prom), so hopefully it will be reinstated. My friend's son, who is in Grade 12 at one of the impacted schools, is incredibly disappointed. Prom is a lot of work for the school to put together, so I am wondering if that is a factor. Schools need teachers to volunteer their time to run the Prom Committee, and I know it takes a lot of work to organize.

This is where the door opens to UNSANCTIONED and potentially UNSAFE alternatives, many of which could be hosted by people that are listed on a sex offender registry or are intending to harm them. No oversight by the school, and in turn a risk that’s even higher.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I was just thinking with the wording, it hints at "we surely don't want to have to be responsible for the insurance and liable for something that has gotten out of hand"

 

[mjkacmom]

If the school won't sponsor a prom is there any reason why the parents can't organize it themselves? That's what our district did when dances were cancelled due to COVID. The parents pitched a fit and put one on themselves.

Our kids had a “mom prom” in 2021 at a nice venue, the kids just want to dress up, and go away for prom weekend.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Our kids had a “mom prom” in 2021 at a nice venue, the kids just want to dress up, and go away for prom weekend.

wait....."away"? Why are they going away? They don't want to go to prom?

 

[hardcorestitch]

wait....."away"? Why are they going away? They don't want to go to prom?

Away as in have a night out.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Away as in have a night out.

ha whew.....I was like.....why have prom then hahaha

sounded more like a senior trip (that also comes with insurance and liability), which is why my class' "senior trip" was after school was out and not run by the school

 

[lanejudy]

Our kids had a “mom prom” in 2021 at a nice venue, the kids just want to dress up, and go away for prom weekend.

Prom traditions vary regionally. In some areas, an overnight "away" (at the shore, etc.) immediately following the dance is very common.

 

[Disneylover99]

They only have prom in grade 12 in Ontario so to have this cancelled is very sad.

I wonder if they have music/athletic banquets in Durham schools. These are nights of dressing up to go to a banquet hall for dinner/dancing, almost like a prom IMO.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I was just thinking with the wording, it hints at "we surely don't want to have to be responsible for the insurance and liable for something that has gotten out of hand"

That's what it sounds like to me, too. Things like:
Insurance has gone up.
It's been tough to get chaperones.
Nobody will help clean up the next day.
Someone was upset about ______, and we don't want to deal with it anymore.

It's kind of sad to see traditions go, but if they had involved the kids before the decision was made, I bet they would have either stepped up or come to an agreement on a new "tradition" to replace it.

 

[lanejudy]

I find it interesting that it is apparently common the students aren't involved. Our prom is "hosted" by the 11th grade (junior) class. Everything is done by the students, with a faculty advisor, and yes faculty and administration as chaperones. But all the planning, decorating, etc. is done by the students. It was that way when I was in school decades ago and still that way when DD was in high school.

 

[sam_gordon]

I hate to say this, but one possibility is there was a credible threat made and they've decided to cancel without saying anything while it's being investigated. Sad we even have to think that way, but threats of violence are real and if that's the case it sucks for the students but I fully understand.

I wouldn't think so. Prom is in the spring. I find it hard to believe there's a "credible threat" made against prom in October.

I do agree with PP that there's more to the story. I will say, assuming the schools had a good/decent reason for cancellation, I don't think they handled notifying the students the best way. Have a meeting, whether in front of all students or just class leaders and explain WHY they made the decision.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The article suggests that the school board is looking into it (3 high schools in the board cancelled prom), so hopefully it will be reinstated. My friend's son, who is in Grade 12 at one of the impacted schools, is incredibly disappointed. Prom is a lot of work for the school to put together, so I am wondering if that is a factor. Schools need teachers to volunteer their time to run the Prom Committee, and I know it takes a lot of work to organize.

Yeah and these days less teachers want to volunteer because of kids behavior year round plus how they act at prom.
It's how the few ruin it for the many.