Year 12 formal - HELP

Has anyone had experience going to a year 12 formal as a parent of a graduate? And I don't mean just turning up and getting the photos with the cool cars and red carpet and stuff, I mean paying big money to celebrate the formal with the kid. An invitation has been sent by the school and "all the parents are doing it"... 

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Mate, it will come and go, don't feel pressured into doing anything you're not comfortable with.

    My daughter is having her formal this year, no big money spent here, I'm saving money to further her education, other parents can throw parties for teenagers with limit experience with alcohol. The only thing I want to pick up off my lawn is leaves, not drunken teenagers. 

    I've arranged for a bouquet of flowers, and for my daughter and her friends to be driven to their formal in a friends Ford XYGT Falcon.

    • You couldn't have picked a better car to organise for her. I don't think I was clear, the school have actually sent a note and it's 120 bucks per student and parent and I don't want to do it. Seems like an absolute toss and an invasion on the kids' celebrations. But apparently I'm wrong to think like that. 

      • Tough one, your opinion is not wrong but what do you do? I'm paying $130.00 for just her, for that, she gets a dinner and a dance. Mate, you don't have a choice, it will be the worst $120 you never spent, you don't want your child to miss their first real milestone. 

         

        • No problem paying 120 for the kid, just don't want to pay 240 more for two adults

          • Mate I know, we needed to pay $130.00 per extra person, kids don't want their parents there anyway, my daughter is going on her own and she's happy. She would have paid me $130.00 for me or my wife not to go lol.

             

  • This reply was deleted.
    • I'm glad I don't have a memory of my parents sitting and dining at my year 12 formal. It's not really about the money, it's my gf's kid and I don't understand the purpose, surely if you asked kids the vote would be "no parents". Unheard of when I was 18, parents took photos then farked right off. 

  • Yeah na fuck that , how embarrassing for the poor kids.   It’s like extreme helicopter parenting and the school are cashing in on it .  What kind of school thinks it’s acceptable to wallop parents in the sky rocket to accompany their children to a school dance ?  So if I’m understanding correctly it’s a fee for the privilege of being there , or is it a fee for services ( as in you get dinner and drinks ) ? 

    • The adults pay 120 each for the same dinner and drinks as the kids. 

      • $120 for dinner and drinks isn’t bad . What’s the problem / question ? I thought you had to pay just to go watch them . I wouldn’t go myself but in this day and age I guess certain cultures wouldn’t allow their daughters to go without the father keeping an eye on her virginity .

        • Hey Wiz, I guess the problem is that I find the whole fucken thing weird, I'd find it hard to find more than 10 percent of young people who'd actually want their parents at their formal. I mean they have the graduation ceremony for that sort of celebration and that doesn't involve spending up money and watching kids try to socialise under our watchful eye. It's tantamount to going to Schoolies week with them in my opinion. I'm not the most social person and struggle to get primed for even a wedding, where you're actually invited by the actual people celebrating, not by their authoritarian overseers. It's a Catholic school by the way.. 

This reply was deleted.

Latest comments

Muttman replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"That day will come soon where the Bulldogs Board have to back either Gus or Ciraldo. If they're smart they know from history that Gus' time is up. If not, they'll inevitably implode. "
7 minutes ago
KingGutho replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"I think Guymer is a pretty handy re signing, can play middle and a edge, there is a lot of talent coming thru the SG Ball side and flegg atm that will need to resign "
9 minutes ago
LB replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"I wonder how safe Ciraldo is? Galvin is a failure so far, even though I felt around 1 he played well, he just doesn't fit and they are doing him a disservice. Gus will throw Ciraldo under the bus with Galvin decision, if they continue to regress,…"
23 minutes ago
The Badger replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"Yeah, you're probably right. We have to spend the minimum amount on the cap so all our players are getting overs just to meet that requirement.
Astor being a constant FG player ... Charlie has played 19 games and is in his 3rd season."
24 minutes ago
Muttman replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"Gus always overstays his welcome. Always. "
55 minutes ago
Adam Magrath replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"They've done well to a large extent avoid public scrutiny. On 360 last week I believe the figure they quoted was 46 points in 3 games they'd scored. The season prior with sexton at halfback they were averaging 28 points per game at the same time.…"
57 minutes ago
LB replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"Doing the bare minimum like he shouldn't be doing this? Seriously such a short sided opinion. 
Yeah it's not signing a superstar but still need to fill out your squad for the future. Dont keep Guymer, could get someone who shouldn't be near NRL to…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"Oh yeah like a player like McLean would come available anytime soon, particularly with 2 new teams coming in where current clubs try to keep their best quicker to avoid them talking to PNG.
Who currently on the market for next year? For 2028 there…"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"How is it we are being sold like it's Payne Haas? We announce all re-signings like this. Sorry Mutts, though some of what you say I agree with and understand you thoughts on R&R, fair. But come on saying this is bare minimum is ridiculous as it…"
1 hour ago
JC replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"On another note, how good is it seeing Gus derail the bulldogs with his meddling. The dogs will have to do what the panthers did to have real success, get Gus out of the joint."
1 hour ago
JC replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"No they aren't but that doesn't mean it's ok that penrith get favouritism. "
1 hour ago
LB replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"What Locks win a comp? He can play a role to help."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"How do we know what he is on? But going rate for a constant FG player is usually around 300-400k."
1 hour ago
LB replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"Again refs ain't changing any of these results.  I hate it when people bring up "they have help" even if they lost Cleary they still win, that's been proven in 2023 when he missed half the year.
Last year they were burned out, had a lull and got…"
1 hour ago
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin🐐 - Mark O'neill' Sack ! replied to Roy tannous's discussion Charlie guymer extends till 2028
"Who knows.  I think you're right,  could be closer to 300"
1 hour ago
LB replied to Clintorian's discussion Panthers put 50 on Storm, you love to see it!
"They suffocate. They get a lead early and rely on the opponents frustrations then capitalize on field position. They don't panic."
1 hour ago
More…

Keaon done deal

As of Thursday, December 11, 2025, South Sydney Rabbitohs forwardKeaon Koloamatangi has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Parramatta Eels, but it is not yet officially announced by the clubs.  Soon to be announced.

Read more…
14 Replies · Reply by Poppa Jan 9
Views: 2267

 

R5 vs TIGERS: The Trial

  It is a little known fact that Franz Kafka’s The Trial (1925) had a baby with Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (1953), producing what literary historians know as The Parramatta Eels. In Kafka’s novel, Joseph K is an entirely unremarkable bank…

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 242

Vale Neville Glover

Former Parramatta Eels winger Neville “Nifty” Glover has died aged 70.  He played 121 games for Parramatta and 13 for Penrith between 1975–1983, scoring 59 tries, and represented both NSW and Australia in 1978.  Glover was a highly regarded winger…

Read more…
10 Replies · Reply by Parra_Greg 23 hours ago
Views: 635

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>