Did any kids get a real Prom this year? My cousin's DD did!

My oldest graduates this week from a big public HS here in Seattle, and definitely not.

The school did a drive-through grad event on Friday where the teachers waved and one handed the grads signs and some swag (school stadium blanket, t-shirt, etc), and the theater department did a small grad event socially distanced at a big outdoor park yesterday where the teens walked across a stage in that park and the parents whooped from far away. The actual graduation is a zoom event. That’s it for grad festivities.

My kids didn't (they've graduated) but one of the larger schools in my town moved their Prom from May to the beginning of March. It was held the weekend before our Covid shutdown.

I didn’t see any normal proms, but I did see several completely normal graduations. Lots of huge (200+ people) graduation parties.

There is a restaurant here that offered a “make up prom” for any high school seniors. They had dinner, dj, dance floor, and pictures. The boys wore their tuxes and the girls wore their dresses. No masks, no distancing.

Ours got a parent arranged Prom yes. Graduation was very small scale, 4 tickets per kid (and we graduated like 60 kids) and it was quite spaced out.

Prom took place a couple weeks ago now. Parents hired an outdoor wedding venue and kids paid 30 dollars each, the school had nothing to do with it. We do a combined Jr/Sr prom with each allowed one escort. Of course not every kid goes to prom. My son did. We did have to have it in another county though due to spacing issues. It was very lovely. I didn't go take pictures but I loved what I saw. Several kids seemed to like it better then the regular prom they have in the gym.

The state rule for the private venues was that they could operate at 50% capacity and under 200 or something close to that. We didn't come close.

No proms here but I don't believe weddings or funerals are allowed either....

There are news stories that parents put together proms for their kids. I am not sure but I think people got sick at those parties.

Why? Is prom that important to parents?

Not prom but my senior is supposed to have a real graduation in July. They split the class in two, and are having it in a big coliseum. Only four guests per graduate. The entire class is about 550, so it will still be a lot of people, but room to socially distance. The parents talked about renting a venue for a prom type get together, but the logistics were to difficult I think. Our state should be totally open by then, our numbers have been going steadily down.

A private VERY small Catholic school next city over held prom in the parking lot. No guests. Just students, seniors only. About 80-100 kids.

ETA, you had to stay in your area. So no mingling

Prom and graduation are both scheduled toward the end of July. Still don't understand exactly how that is supposed to work but plans continue to move forward for both events.

They did hold a virtual graduation last month for those who won't be available in July (i.e. entering military service, reporting to college early, etc.) or those who knew they would not be comfortable attending an in person gathering of that size.

They could just call it a "protest" and have as many people as they want apparently.

I have a co-worker that is a senior and she said the school wasn't going to be giving the class back the money it had raised for the prom. Not sure on all the details on that. If it's true, that doesn't seem right but not sure what they would alternatively use the money for.

In the 3 weeks following our prom alternative our county had no new cases, and the county where the prom was held, had 2 new cases in those weeks and were not related.

That's why each community has to have their own guidelines with awareness of recommendations etc. people can't point to a tiny town with no active cases and expect the same degree of distancing as a city with thousands of cases. I will go eat in any local restaurants within a 30 mile drive of me, i will not go in any major metropolitan area and eat.

The school is often stuck because the money was already paid to the venue, band, etc., and the school is dependent on those people giving the money back. 

I'm going to assume you understand the difference between protesting ongoing police violence and holding a fun (but unnecessary) dance party and leave the rest of it alone.