Credit the organizers of San Marino High School’s Grad Night for, among other things, persistence, even though they eventually weren’t quite able to find Nemo.
In the end, it was announced last Friday afternoon that a Grad Night for SMHS’ graduating class of 2020 isn’t going to happen for now.
“It pretty much came down to an order from [Gov. Gavin Newsom last week] that you could not have that many people around each other,” said San Marino Police Chief John Incontro. A recent resurgence in cases of COVID-19 has forced health officials to backpedal on plans to loosen restrictions on gatherings, and SMHS’ iconic, all-night graduation party — which this year had been dubbed “Finding Nemo” — paid the price.
Event co-chairs Michele Carter, Jane Chon, Jennifer Chuang and Beth Davis had held out hope for a Friday, July 31, Grad Night accompanied by some form of graduation ceremony. Workers had recently been putting the finishing touches on the set before the new restrictions were announced.
The school is now planning a drive-thru graduation ceremony on July 31, and Grad Night has been rescheduled as a class reunion and is slated for Saturday, July 3, 2021. The new event will be called “Celebrating Nemo: Swim Home in 2021.” As before, it will include dinner, music, entertainment, the casino, games, prizes, rides and activities at the all-night party. This one, however, will be a little more reunion and a little less farewell.
On July 31, SMHS graduates are invited to partake in the drive-thru graduation procession, which will be confined to the campus and surrounding area. Graduates each will be able to drive or ride in their car across the running track, leave the vehicle for a photo, and pick up their diploma and yearbook.
“We are of course disappointed we were unable to bring a more typical graduation experience to our class of 2020 due to the restrictions and guidance of our county authorities,” said SMHS Principal Jason Kurtenbach. “However, we will do our best to make the drive-thru graduation experience on July 31 unique and special as a final farewell to this amazing class.”
In answering surveys throughout the spring, members of the class of 2020 held out for in-person events, even if it meant delaying them beyond scheduled dates. In fact, many voted for Grad Night to take place over the holiday break in December 2020.
The 2021 version of 2020 Grad Night will piggyback, slightly, on the 2021 Grad Night event. Davis said the funds donated for Grad Night 2020 will remain in an account to be held for the reunion party in 2021.
“We have worked hard and stayed committed up to this week to provide the class of 2020 a traditional Grad Night on July 31, 2020, but the public health restrictions just don’t allow us to provide anything that even closely resembles the honor and fun this class deserves,” said Davis. “Now we are setting our eyes and putting all of our energy into throwing a fantastic evening in the classic Grad Night fashion for all of them next summer. We will celebrate the class of 2020.”
Davis thanked all of the volunteers who had remained dedicated to the effort, working and raising funds until just days before the announcement.
“Thank you for the countless ways you have supported us,” Davis said. “We are so grateful for you all and cannot express how appreciative we are of you continuing to swim against the COVID current with us.”
Grad Night Postponed, but Drive-Thru Commencement Set
