Morgan Hill – The newest high school in town is preparing for its first graduating class next year and a small group of parent volunteers is working to start up a Grad Night for the Class of 2007.
Ann Sobrato High School opened for the 2004-05 school year with a freshman and sophomore class. This year, the school has three grade levels and will be a full four-year high school in the fall.
Raising enough money to put on a large scale party at minimal cost to the students could take time, parents realize, as they are starting from scratch.
A committee of approximately 10 parents has been getting organized for several months.
“It’s really kind of amazing that we’ve done so much already,” said committee member Lucinda Lawson.
The committee has already held two fundraisers, a flower sale, which raised approximately $1,200, and an e-waste recycling project, which asked local businesses and Sobrato families to contribute electronic waste. The amount raised from this project, a year-round effort, has not been totaled.
Cal Color Growers on Peebles Avenue gave the committee 100 flats of bedding flowers at no cost; the committee sold them for $12 per flat.
Corporate and business pickups are available all year long, and drop-offs are possible at AMERTURK corporate location: 1050 E. Duane Ave., Ste. M, in Sunnyvale. Mention account number 1020.
To make a donation to Sobrato’s Grad Night, call Lucinda Lawson, 782-5109.
Besides beginning to raise money, the committee has been busy planning the event, which is designed to keep students safe and sober the night they graduate from high school.
Organizers say they plan to keep the event’s location a secret. Students will be taken by charter buses to the party spot and will remain there from 10pm until 5am, unless parents pick them up.
A list of possible activities at the location includes a dancing to music provided by a DJ, bumper boats, laser tag and mini golf.
“We want to make it as fun as we possibly can for the kids,” committee member Janet Boyd said.
Committee member Anita Penry said organizers have considered steps necessary to keep students safe for the event.
“No one will be allowed on the bus whose name is not on the manifest,” she said. “There will be chaperones and security at the event … No student will be allowed to drive to the event; students must ride the charter buses if they want to attend. It’s all about keeping students safe and sober.”
Penry said students will be allowed to purchase tickets right up to the time of the event, but they must have a ticket to get on the bus.
The committee has not yet decided how much the tickets will cost, but they hope to raise enough money to make them affordable.
The committee hopes parents will encourage their students to attend the event, instead of making alternate plans.
“We did a survey, asking kids about what kinds of things they would like: ‘We can’t make all your dreams come true, but what could we do to make this fun for you, ” Boyd said. “Many of them said as long as all their friends were there, they’d be happy.”
“That’s the whole reason we’re trying to make it affordable, so that more kids will go,” said committee member Cindy Peterson. “Ultimately, we’d like the whole graduating class to go.”
The minimum number of students needed to hold the event at the secret location is 175, Penry said, which can include guests of the juniors. The committee is optimistic that enough students will buy tickets after surveying Sobrato High students.
Of the 219 juniors who answered the survey, 185 said they would likely attend grad night, and 27 more said they weren’t sure, Boyd said. Only seven said they would not be interested.
Live Oak High School has held a Grad Night for its students and Central High School students for 21 years. The event is held in the school’s gym, which is elaborately decorated with a surprise theme. Organizers rely on donations from the community to purchase decorations, food and to rent the different games available during the event.
Many community business donate supplies as well as money.
Some Morgan Hill residents have expressed concern that the community would have difficulty supporting two graduation parties. Some suggested the schools cooperate to hold one large party.
“With regard to overtaxing the local business for donations for two grad nights as opposed to one, we should remember that there are the same number of graduates, just at two high schools and we hope this would not divide us, but unite us in one cause: a safe and sober graduation night for our whole community,” Boyd said. “We are sincerely grateful for any donations the community would offer for all of our seniors.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
