Grad Night
Garfield Seniors, get ready to party!
Latest news: Check back after the Graduation date has been announced. (Last revised: Sept. 23, 2023)
Hello Class of 2024 families! Information below will be somewhat general until details can be firmed up, starting in early 2024.
Your senior is invited to join Grad Night, an annual tradition at Garfield! It is a safe, sober, fun, all-night party immediately following their graduation ceremonies.
When and Where
On the night of Graduation, seniors will board charter buses near Memorial Stadium after their graduation ceremony, starting at [time TBA]. They will return to the Garfield parking lot after some 8 hours of activities.
The location of the party is the only secret. Seniors will not find out where they are going until the buses reach the venue.
Safety of the kids is the top-most priority for us.
⇒ We will have over 20 adult chaperones (Garfield teachers and parent-volunteers – see how to volunteer below).
⇒ Kids will leave their cellphones in bus storage upon boarding, so they can fully enjoy each other without their electronics! We will have emergency phone numbers should you have to reach your kids during the night.
Food
Students will receive dinner and breakfast as part of their ticket. Garfield PTSA provides snacks for the kids upon boarding the buses. Please email us if your student has special dietary needs. (Contact info below.)
Cost
Ticket price depends on a family’s ability to pay. Full price is [$TBA] per senior. We also offer the following options: [$TBA] discounted tickets, [$TBA] tickets for Free/Reduced lunch students, and $0 full scholarship tickets.
All seniors are invited! Please reach out to any Garfield teacher to request the full scholarship. We have full support from the PTSA to cover all the cost if ticket price is any concern. Ticket price covers the cost of the party venue and food. Garfield PTSA generously covers all other costs, including busing.
HERE’S HOW TO REGISTER! – Four Steps [Not yet available for 2024]
- Purchase your ticket – you will be able to choose a price (or seek a full waiver).
- Fill out all required parts of the participation forms. Download: 1) Release and 2) Care form (if student has certain conditions)
- Turn in the printed completed form(s) to the Garfield front office.
- Sign up for the bus (there will be opportunities at GHS close to the event date for this).
Help the Garfield parents volunteering their time to make this event possible and fill out and submit your forms to the Garfield front office as soon as you purchase your tickets. Your ticket is not issued until all forms are completed and received
Parent/Guardian Volunteers are Needed
We are recruiting:
- Chaperones for the party, ideally parents and guardians of non-senior class (unless your kid is totally fine with you being at the party!) This commitment is normally for the full duration of the party, including riding the buses!
- Bus-loading volunteers, a great option for senior parents and guardians, because the commitment ends as soon as the buses are loaded!
To volunteer, contact us at garfieldhsptsa@gmail.com.
Traditionally Grad Night chaperoning is a pay-it-forward volunteering event for parents of juniors. Food is provided during the event. No experience needed, just parents who are willing to stay up all night for these Garfield graduates!
Questions?
Email Grad Night co-chairs Anne-Phyfe and Krista at garfieldhsptsa@gmail.com.
Q&A about the Grad Night tradition
For many years, Garfield seniors have celebrated together at the “sober and safe” Bulldog Grad Night party, with support and coordination by the PTSA and volunteer chaperones.
What is Grad Night? Following the commencement ceremony, students and chaperones board charter buses to one or more “mystery” party venues for many hours of entertainment, food, and fun. Among recent venues are the Family Fun Center, a downtown Seattle night club, and Dave and Buster’s. The buses return everyone to Garfield early the morning after graduation.
Who pays for this? The Garfield PTSA provides major funding to subsidize this last “evening of enchantment.” Tickets are priced on a sliding scale, including free tickets for those who request them. (We encourage those who can pay full cost to also help support others with a donation.) The ticket cost includes transportation, food, entertainment, and a senior gift.
Who can attend? ALL seniors are encouraged to attend this event, from start to end. (Students are not allowed to join the event partway through.) Guests are not permitted.
Who are the chaperones? Parents and teachers willing to volunteer to stay up into the wee hours!
What are the volunteer opportunities? Member or co-chair of the Grad Night Planning Committee; Chaperone; Bus Loader. A professional event-planning company does much of the work. Contact garfieldhsptsa@gmail.com if you have not seen publicity about how to volunteer, including contact info specific to the current year.
How do I get full information? Details on tickets, how to volunteer, etc., are announced by the PTSA in late winter each year through various methods (in-school announcements/posters, PTSA newsletter, website and Facebook page, etc.).