It’s time for diplomas, graduation parties

Hundreds of North Idaho high school seniors will don the traditional cap and gown this weekend and march single file with their classmates to collect their diplomas.

All-night parties typically follow, sponsored by parents hoping to stop graduates from celebrating their achievement with drugs and alcohol.

This year, Lake City High School seniors will spend the night at Silverwood Theme Park after graduation Saturday.

Buses will bring them there, and none will be allowed to leave until morning unless a parent or legal guardian picks them up.

“This is the parents’ effort to say, ‘OK, we’re going to celebrate on this night, we’re going to have it drug-free and you’re going to have a good time,’ ” said Tammy Sette, Lake City’s registrar.

“It’s just one big, last gathering for all of them.”

Sette said the vast majority of the school’s 280 graduating seniors are expected to participate.

About 250 seniors graduating from Coeur d’Alene High School Friday night are invited to spend their graduation night at Triple Play, as are some 160 seniors graduating Saturday afternoon from Lakeland High School in Rathdrum.

“You just don’t see kids not going to it,” said Debi McCorkle, administrative assistant at Wallace High School.

Most of that school’s 39 graduating seniors will spend the night at the Kellogg bowling alley after graduation Friday.

“It’s like the last hurrah,” McCorkle said.