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How did Grad Nite get
started?
What happens at Grad
Nite?
Why have Grad Nite?
What does the event cost?
Who organizes and creates
Grad Nite?
How did Grad Nite get started?
In 1989, a group of Poway High parents organized the first Grad Nite on
campus. Previously the graduating seniors were bussed to Disneyland,
but it didn’t offer the promise of a safe, drug- and alcohol-free
event, nor the ability for the graduates to spend their last high
school memories together as a group. Since then, each year PHS has held
Grad Nite on campus. It is our gift to the senior class from the
parents, the school, and our community and an important tradition for
our school. Typically, 85% of the seniors attend Grad Nite. A lot of
effort is made to make it the biggest party of the year; one that they
don’t want to miss!
What happens at
Grad Nite?
Grad Nite takes place after graduation, beginning at 9:00 pm and
lasting till 5:00 am the following morning. The gym and surrounding
areas are transformed into a magical setting depicting the theme. The
ticket price admits the graduate to a one-of-a-kind extravaganza of
hired entertainment (stage show – illusionist, large inflatable games,
face painting, laser tag, caricaturists, handwriting analysts and
fortune telling, Karaoke, Souvenir Photos, DJ and dancing, professional
hair stylists) carnival games, a casino with blackjack, craps,
roulette, amazing prizes, and food and beverages throughout the evening.
No other money is needed. Only PHS graduates may attend and they are
required to stay the entire evening unless checked out by a
parent/guardian. Professional security will pat-down each student as
they enter and all belongings will be stored in a check-in closet.
Please encourage your senior to attend by holding your family
celebrations earlier in the day of graduation or after graduation day.
All parents whose students have purchased tickets and have not shown up
by 10 p.m. are called, to insure that parents know they aren’t at Grad
Nite and hopefully can be tracked down. We encourage parents to arrange
carpools with your neighbors and friends for picking up students at 5
am. If working the 2nd shift, students can go home with you! They’ll be
very tired and will be safer being driven home.
Why have Grad Nite?
Grad Nite offers graduates a safe place to celebrate with their friends
before they go their separate ways with no drugs, no alcohol, and no
tragedy. The California Highway Patrol reports this night, more than
any other night of the school year attributes to more deaths and
injuries of high school students from drunk driving. Since Grad Nites
have become popular, there has been a significant decline in the death
toll during the weeks of graduation.
What does the event cost?
Traditionally, we have worked from a $75,000 budget to produce Grad
Nite. More than half the funds are raised by ticket sales, but the rest
of the budget is made up from fundraising and donations from community
businesses and parents. Our
goal is to have every graduate attend and we offer scholarships to
those who could not attend otherwise. We are a non-profit organization
and all donations are tax-deductible.
Ticket prices for 2009 are as follows:
Early
purchase up to February 14, 2009:
$55.00
February
15, 2009 – May 20, 2009:
$75.00
May 21,
2009 – June 10, 2009: $95.00
Purchase at
the door on June 11, 2009:
$125.00
Who organizes and creates Grad Nite?
Grad Nite is a committee of PTSA and as such is a PTSA-sponsored event
and supported by PHS Administration and Staff, community businesses and
the City of Poway. The Grad Nite Chair and Financial Secretary are
elected positions on the PTSA Board and Committee Chairs are chosen
from the volunteer interest forms distributed during Registration each
year. Planning an event this size requires many, many volunteer hours –
but when broken down into committees, it’s not only manageable, but fun
as well. If you’d like to work the night of Grad Nite, you get first
choice where to work if you’re on a committee. There are 2 shifts. 1st
shift is 8:30 pm – 1 am. 2nd shift is 12:30 am – 5 am. Working on a
committee gives parents a chance to get to know other parents and it’s
a great bonding experience as we all share in this final event of high
school. Parents, please consider joining in the planning of Grad Nite
at some level. There are many ways to help.
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