Los Gatos Weekly-Times

There's going to be a party, but details are hush-hush

By Michelle Alaimo

There's going to be a $26,000 bash for 330 people in Los Gatos on June 13, but just try to find out anything about the theme, the decor or the entertainment.

That's part of the tradition of Grad Night. Parents work overtime not only to create a fantasy evening for graduating seniors, but also to keep every last detail a secret so as not to spoil the surprise.

Another tradition of Grad Night is that it's drug- and alcohol-free. That's the real motivation behind all the work and time and money that go into this once-a-year bash. Parents want to make sure their kids are safe on their big night, but they also know that to attract the graduates, the party better be pretty spectacular.

The strategy must be working, because attendance has been close to 100 percent for the 10-year run of Grad Night in its current form.

"I think it's a good thing for kids to have someplace to go after they graduate," says Laurie Lasswell, who is in charge of Grad Night games and activities.

This year's Grad Night party features a vast array of food, nonstop activities and entertainment, says Shannon Kiszka, a parent volunteer.

Once graduates arrive, they can't leave unless they're signed out by a parent or are over the age of 18. A fence around the party area helps enforce the rule.

The party is staffed by parents and other volunteers, many of whom have spent hundreds of hours working on their given tasks. Margaret Wherry, decorations chairwoman, says some parents who work full-time have spent two to three nights a week working on Grad Night for the past three months.

"Without those people, Grad Night wouldn't happen," Wherry says.

The entire community gets involved in the annual sendoff for graduates by donating merchandise for raffles, games and giveaways. One family of a graduating senior has also donated a lot of food, said Kiszka.

Cost for the evening per student is $85, with scholarships available for those who need it. All those who attend must wear the official Grad Night T-shirt.

The $26,000 budget goes for set-up costs, food, entertainment, decorations, fencing and the two police officers who help chaperone the event. Since the event is not a school function, the Grad Night committee must also pay for insurance.

The Grad Night budget has remained at about the same level for the past 10 years as has the approximate cost of the bids. Any remaining money is passed on to the next Grad Night committee for startup costs. Prior to the all-night party that started some 10 years ago, parents put on a sit-down dinner with dancing and swimming as the activities.

This year's Grad Night has been in the planning stages since last spring, Kiszka says. The committee held its first general meeting in September.

To find out what all the secrecy was about, the community is invited to attend the pre-party open house at 7 p.m. on June 13. "It's a neat way for people to see what Grad Night is actually going to look like," Kiszka says.

Grad Night begins at 10:30 p.m. on June 13 and concludes at approximately 5:30 a.m. the following day.

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