Grad night theme still secret but safety, fun are promised
Community can preview the party on June 10
By Jason Baker
With diplomas in hand and eyes on the future, Saratoga High School seniors will be treated to one last blast during Grad Night, an all-night party following commencement ceremonies June 10.
With a $21,000 budget, the party is planned as a safe and sober place for graduates to celebrate. More than 100 parents have worked tirelessly on the event since December, arranging for chaperones and workers, constructing and installing the set and coordinating games, prizes, memorabilia and food.
About 100 local businesses also have donated services, prizes, materials and food for the evening, spokeswoman Linda Allen said.
As always, the theme of the evening is being kept secret. The high school's quad area, cafeteria, little theater, small gymnasium and bathrooms will be transformed for the occasion with various decorations.
Scheduled festivities are said to include games, a gambling casino, in-line skating and all-night dancing. An advanced party menu promises barbecue chicken, sushi, chili, baked potatoes and a salad bar. Students also will be honored for their work in theater, sports, academics and community service. The party kicks off at 7 p.m. and runs until 6 a.m. the following morning.
Parents instituted Grad Night in the 1980s as a way of giving graduates a safe, fun and substance-free party. The event has grown in popularity and is now attended by almost every graduate, according to organizers. Past Grad Night themes have included "The Circus," "Back to the Future" and "Under the Sea."
The money and resources needed for the all-nighter are raised through $110 bids purchased by seniors and through community donations. Scholarships also have been made available to students in need of financial assistance, Allen said.
The majority of the senior parents also will have participated in some way by the event's end, organizers said.
Community members hoping for a glimpse at what lies in store for the Class of 1999 are invited to a public preview from 2 to 5 p.m. June 10.
Saratoga, California Since 1975
