Class of 2009 will keep it local<\/b><\/p>\n
Kent high-school seniors will have to drive to the Tacoma Dome to graduate this June, but next year\u2019s graduating class will be walking across a more local and much newer stage.<\/p>\n
The Kent Events Center, which is expected to be complete by January 2009, will not only be the new home of the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team. It also will be the site of future graduations for local high-school students.<\/p>\n
The venue change will occur next year, the Kent-Meridian, Kentridge, Kentwood and Kentlake Classes of 2009 being the first to graduate at the $78.6 million, 6,025-seat arena instead of the Tacoma Dome. Kent Mountain View Academy and Kent Phoenix Academy senior classes, which are typically much smaller, likely will continue to graduate at Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center.<\/p>\n
The Tacoma-based arena previously was the closest venue able to accommodate the four high schools\u2019 senior classes, which regularly consist of almost 500 students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the Tacoma Dome works because it\u2019s large, it\u2019s really a lot of trouble getting down there, especially for kids and parents without transportation,\u201d said Becky Hanks, district spokesperson. \u201cIn contrast, this will provide an immediate backyard intimacy, so everyone\u2019s really thrilled about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said the district also is excited to start working with the City of Kent on graduation events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already have some great partnerships with the City of Kent, and this will be one more way we can partner with them,\u201d Hanks said.<\/p>\n
Several members of next year\u2019s graduating class also showed their excitement for the change April 15, showing up to sign the final beam after it was put into place at a special ceremony. \u201cWe\u2019re starting a tradition,\u201d said Erica Flores, a Kent-Meridian junior and member of the Class of 2009, after signing the beam.<\/p>\n
Hanks said the district has yet to plan the ceremonies with Kent Events Center management, but they expect to begin negotiations soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019ll be sitting down with the management in the next several months,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Contact Daniel Mooney at 253-437-6012 or dmooney@reporternewspapers.com.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s graduation schedule<\/p>\n
Ceremonies for the classes of 2008 will take place next month at their regular venues. They are:<\/p>\n
Kent Phoenix Academy \u2014 7 p.m. June 12 \u2014 Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
Kent Mountain View Academy \u2014 7 p.m. June 13 \u2014 Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
Kentwood High School \u2014 10 a.m. June 14 \u2014 Tacoma Dome<\/p>\n
Kent-Meridian High School \u2014 12:30 p.m. June 14 \u2014 Tacoma Dome<\/p>\n
Kentridge High School \u2014 3 p.m. June 14 \u2014 Tacoma Dome<\/p>\n
Kentlake High School \u2014 5:30 p.m. June 14 \u2014 Tacoma Dome<\/p>\n
Contact the schools for more information, or visit the Kent School District Web site at www.kent.k12.wa.us<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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