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Grad night promises to be a party seniors will remember
Parents, merchants chip in to transform high school into a wild adventure
By Jessica Lyons
Willow Glen High School graduating seniors may not recognize their campus on June 11. Statues of Tiki gods will line the quad, mountains and palm trees will cover the gym walls, and on the way to class, in place of hallways, the seniors will walk through a cave. It's not a scene out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, it's "Wild Ram Adventure" Grad Night.
The party is the last hurrah for graduating seniors, and local parents are determined to see their kids' years at Willow Glen High end with a bang. And a bang they will remember--this party is drug- and alcohol-free.
"We do it to keep as many kids as possible off the streets," says Sue Parisi, a member of the parents' club and this year's grad night chair. "We know after graduation they like to party and be with their friends, and this is a closed, safe, alcohol- and drug-free environment. They can come and let loose and not worry about getting in trouble."
Students arrive on campus at 9 p.m. following graduation ceremonies, and once they get there, they can't leave. The party lasts till 4 a.m. But considering the various activities the parents have planned, a lack of things to do shouldn't be a problem.
Highlights this year include a rock climbing wall and a cash cube, a phone booth-sized box, holding $150 in $1 bills. Once a student steps in the booth, the fans turn on, blowing the bills in all directions. When the fans stop, the student keeps whatever bills he or she managed to grab.
The astro-jump--a favorite from the grade-school jumping castle days--is always a winner, Parisi says. Or students can gamble away $500 in Monopoly money at the casino, try their luck at the carnival games, shoot some pool or dance the night away. They can also race go-carts or rollerblade around campus. Caricature and fake tattoo artists will be on hand, too.
"The kids come in pretty excited because we've built it up so much," Parisi says. "I knew if I told them about the rock climbing wall, they'd get excited about it." Parents have been planning the party almost since the school year began, and have raised more than $9,000 to cover the cost of the decorations, activities, raffle money and other prizes. Local merchants have donated all the food and beverages for the party. Seniors must purchase tickets for $55 in order to attend, and the Parent's Club is expecting almost 90 percent attendance--nearly 200 kids out of a graduating class of 235.
"They really enjoy it," Parisi says. "They're in a relaxed environment with their friends, they can just hang out and have a good time."
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
