No homecoming dances for C.O. high schools; parents step up to host unofficial event
(Update: adding information and video)
Central Oregon high school students have not had a homecoming dance since 2019
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend-La Pine Schools will not be having homecoming dances this year, but some parents are stepping in to try to fill the gap.
Aubrey McGarry is organizing a "Haunted Hollywood" homecoming for Mountain View students on Saturday, Oct. 30.
“This year, a group of parents discussed on social media that if schools started canceling stuff, as parents we needed to step up,” McGarry told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday.
High schools will have a "gathering" and "activities" before the football game, but school district spokeswoman Alandra Johnson told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday that it would be hard to maintain adequate social distancing at a dance.
McGarry said she was inspired to create the event because her oldest son missed out on prom and homecoming due to COVID-19.
“One of the things that I noticed with my oldest son was that those canceled events were really meaningful to him," McGarry said. "I noticed two years later that there was an impact there for him.”
The event at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds is $20 a ticket and is for Mountain View students only. Students who purchase a ticket can bring a high school-aged guest. Mask wearing is optional.
The event is not sanctioned by the school district.
“It’s up to a parent if they send their student to those activities, but they are not sanctioned or supported by our school or our district,” said Katie Legace, Bend-La Pine's executive director for high schools.
It's the first time McGarry has hosted any unofficial school event. She told NewsChannel 21 she would like to host more events in the future and said other parents have reached out to her for advice on hosting their own homecoming events.
If you're interested in attending the event, you can purchase tickets through the Venmo account BackupeventsMVHS.
Crook County High School held its homecoming earlier than usual. The school did not have an official dance, but celebrated with an outdoor movie night for students on campus.
