In-person graduation and parade in the works

The Blaine school district and community are trying to make graduation celebrations available to as many people as possible. While the district is waiting until Monday, June 7 to decide whether this year’s in-person ceremony will be held inside or out, senior parents have put together a drive-by celebration similar to last year’s.

Blaine High School graduation

Lisa Moeller, public relations supervisor for the school district, said the district will not be making any decisions on where graduation will be held – whether outdoor or indoor – until Monday, June 7. Moeller said they are leaving it late so they have a better idea of the weather forecast on graduation day.

If weather permits and the ceremony can be held outside, she said students will receive four tickets. In the case of an indoor ceremony, students will be allowed two guests.

Moeller said there will not be areas designated for vaccinated attendants.

Drive-by parade for BHS seniors

Senior parents have brought back the drive-by graduation celebration for the second consecutive year.

On Sunday, June 6 at 2 p.m., Blaine High School seniors are invited dress up in their caps and gowns and assemble on both sides of Mitchell Avenue south of the I-5 overpass as family and community members drive down Mitchell Avenue – possibly with decorated vehicles – and honk, wave and show love to the graduating seniors.

The celebration originated last year. When the graduation ceremony was pushed to Zoom due to the pandemic, a group of parents of the 2020 graduating class organized a parade-like event on Peace Portal Drive for their seniors to have their moment in the spotlight. “These kids have waited their entire lives for this moment, and parents have waited for this moment,” said Angie Dixon, who helped organize last year’s event. “We still want to see them have that moment.”

While this year’s seniors will have an in-person graduation ceremony, Friday, June 11, they also requested having a drive-by ceremony for those unable to attend, said Kristi Shipp, who helped organize this year’s event. She said the kids thought it was so cool last year that they wanted to have one of their own.

Shipp said she has also heard from school faculty and community members who have been asking whether the event would happen again this year. “It’s a way for people in the community who don’t get to go to the graduation ceremony to get to see the kids in their caps and gowns,” she said.

Vehicles will start from the I-5 overpass on Mitchell Avenue and head south. Organizers ask that students keep six feet apart from each other on the sidewalk and for cars to refrain from holding up other vehicles in line.