Answering your questions about Proms

This past week, we have received many inquiries about end of year celebrations for graduating students, especially proms. We have put together a list of some of the most common questions and answers.

How do schools celebrate graduating students?

All DDSB secondary schools host a commencement event, or a completion event, usually in June. This is a celebration of learning; students have the opportunity to come together and celebrate the completion of their secondary school programs. There can be speeches and awards, but most importantly, students are recognized for their accomplishments by their friends, staff, families and community. This is the celebration of an important milestone in their learning journey.

How is Commencement different from “Prom”

“Prom” is commonly considered a party for the graduating class. It usually happens outside of the school day. It is often organized by a combination of students and staff and can be held at an offsite venue. Students buy tickets to cover the cost, and attendance is restricted to the graduating class. Prom is considered an extracurricular activity. It is not part of the formal curriculum and relies on volunteer staff support to be planned and supervised.

Does every school do the same thing?

No, prom looks different at every school. Decisions about school-based events are made at the school level. When the prom is organized by the school, Principals are responsible for ensuring that the event, like all extra-curricular activities, is student-focused and reflects the unique nature of the school community.

There are also differences in practice around school-organized prom events throughout the province. Some school boards do not have school-organized prom events in any of their secondary schools, and some have a mixture of school-organized and community-organized events. In the DDSB, at least one school moved to a community-organized celebration model, which has been running successfully for approximately 10 years.

Did the DDSB cancel proms?

No, there has been no district-wide cancellation of all proms at the DDSB. Three DDSB secondary schools recently sent a letter to their school community explaining that they were looking to make changes to the practice of organizing proms, shifting away from the past practice of school organized events.

Why did these three schools take this approach?

The principals exercised professional judgement, considered the safety concerns, the time involved in planning, the growing complexity in expectations, the challenges of safe supervision, and the increasing concern about liability and risk to students. Recognizing that proms are handled differently in many school communities, they felt there was an opportunity to change the practice in their school community.

Did the DDSB tell them they had to reintroduce prom?

The DDSB recognizes that proms are school-based activities. The district asked the schools to take a pause in the transition planning to allow time to:

• Reflect on feedback from students, families, and staff
• Create space for co-planning and dialogue
• Ensure any decisions align with school values and priorities

It’s not a cancellation—it’s a commitment to thoughtful collaboration.

Will proms be reinstated in these schools?

The schools have received plenty of feedback, are reflecting on what has been shared, and are working with students and staff on a path forward. Recognizing that there are alternative approaches being used in our district, there will be time to explore these models and find a solution that works best for each school community. Schools will keep their local community informed.

Respectful Feedback

We deeply appreciate the feedback received so far but are concerned about messages that target individuals. We ask that all communication remain respectful and constructive. Comments that are hateful, libelous, or slanderous are not acceptable and detract from the shared goal of building a positive school experience. We’re committed to working together to find a path forward that reflects our community’s values.