Exclusive $50,000-a-year Anglican school comes under fire from posh parents for scrapping its Year 12 formal over coronavirus fears – while annual fundraising ball will go ahead
- The Anglican Church Grammar School, in Brisbane, cancelled its Year 12 formal
- The exclusive private boys school called off the April dance over COVID-19 fears
- It was announce on Wednesday that the annual fundraising ball would still run
- Outraged parents have campaigned against the school’s cash-grab decision
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Parents have been left outraged after an exclusive private school cancelled its Year 12 formal.
The Anglican Church Grammar School – known as Churchie – in East Brisbane, told parents yesterday that the senior formal had been scrapped over coronavirus fears.
The private boys’ school, which costs parents $50,000 a year for students who board, was set to host the Year 12 dance on April 2.
‘The school is putting profit before the boys’ rite of passage and the formal should be held instead of the ball,’ a furious mother told The Courier-Mail.
The exclusive Anglican Church Grammar School (pictured) in East Brisbane cancelled its Year 12 formal over coronavirus fears but is postponing a fundraising ball for later this year
Parents viewed the fundraising ball taking priority as the school’s attempt at a cash grab.
Facebook posts and a collective petition are now pressuring the school to shut down the fundraiser in favour of the Year 12 formal.
The campaigning mum said: ‘We understand coronavirus is serious but we expected the formal to be postponed not cancelled outright with no room for discussion.’
Many parents have also appealed the decision to Churchie’s head of senior school Rod Olsen.
Mr Olsen emailed parents on Wednesday to inform them that the 2020 senior formal was cancelled over COVID-19 fears.
The email read: ‘We appreciate this will cause great disappointment, however based on current government advice against large gatherings it would not be in the best interests of the boys and their guests to proceed with this event.’
He said that the Churchie Ball fundraiser was a rescheduling priority and would be taking place later in term 3 or 4.
The email encouraged all the seniors and their parents to attend the event.
An Anglican Church Grammar School spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the ball was not a fundraiser and was merely ticketed to cover the cost.
Both public and private high schools across the country have been forced to postpone their senior formals amid the coronavirus crisis.
Churchie (pictured) parents were outraged that the school prioritised the ball over the formal