Cascade High School Masks Up after COVID-19 Outbreak at Prom

Cascade High School students took ill after a weekend that was meant to be the best time of their senior year. Some students who went to prom on May 7th returned to class the following Monday and tested positive for COVID-19.

Although the exact figure for how many students were infected, CHS Principal Elia Ala'ilima-Daley reports that it was in the double digits.

Cascade High School held their prom at the Icicle Center of the Arts. On May 9-10, Daley got multiple reports of students feeling ill and later testing positive for COVID-19. The Cascade School District was instructed to call the Chelan-Douglas Health District on what to do next.

“This is more out of the abundance of caution and the guidance from the [CDHD],” Ala'ilima-Daley said. “Even before we drop[ped] the masks, we have told families that if your student has any kind of symptoms at all, whether it's a common cold or anything, please keep them at home, just making sure that we're not spreading any kind of sickness here at school.”

Cascade Superintendent Dr. Tracey Beckendorf-Edou reports that students and staff who attended prom will need to continue to wear a mask while at school and on school buses through May 17. Masks will be optional for students and staff who did not attend prom.

CHS also recommended COVID-19 testing for anyone who felt ill and highly encourages students who attended prom to get tested.

Students who did not wish to wear a mask have the option to attend school virtually or have an excused absence.