Graduation Information - Class of 2021

Community Organized Grad Parade

Parade Safety Message from Parent Organizers/Safe and Sober Group

Dear BHHS Seniors,

Let me start by saying "Congratulations!" This is a big milestone in your life as you continue forward in adulthood. We wish you all the success possible and hope you can attain your goals and actualize your dreams.

We want to take this opportunity to also share a few safety issues and concerns as you have your senior parade.

Please meet beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 4th, parked appropriately at the Bankus Field parking lot (with any additional vehicles using The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints parking lot as needed), keeping vehicles close, but maintaining a safe distance. We definitely don't want to experience any vehicle collisions at this time! See the attached maps for the route as I describe it below. I expect to travel the parade route at about 15 MPH.

We will start leading the parade at 7:00 p.m. Please begin following in a close, orderly and safe manner. The parade route will be to leave the parking lot, head up to Easy, turn right, pass KES and BHHS, turning right onto Pioneer, down to Pacific, turning right and immediately left onto Oak St.

We will head down Oak to Hwy 101/Chetco Ave where a fire truck will have the slow lane on Hwy 101 blocked for us. Our light will be red, but because we will have the lane blocked, it will be safe for us to turn RIGHT ONLY onto Hwy 101 without stopping; but please, continue to use caution as you proceed. Once the last vehicle turns onto Hwy 101 the fire truck will join the back of the parade.

We will head up Chetco Ave until we turn right onto 5th St, where we will head up the hill to turn right onto Easy street. We will head back toward BHHS, down Pioneer Rd, back across Pacific Ave, down the Fern dip, and back around to the Bankus Field parking lot.

During the parade, we do want everyone staying close together - like a parade! - so other vehicles do not enter and disrupt our procession. If however, someone does enter our line, please continue the route as described in a safe manner. We'll be keeping the fast lane slow so it's more like what we've done in the past (such as during a homecoming parade) to keep students safe, so please do your part.

Please feel free to decorate your vehicle and wear your graduation cap and gown. For your safety, please remain appropriately in your vehicle. We have organized traffic control on the route for the safety and visibility of the seniors so they can sit or be on their knees in the bed of a pickup. Your center of gravity needs to be below the truck bed rail (not standing, not on chairs which put their center of gravity too high) so if there’s an incident you’ll fall down, not out.

This activity is being hosted by parents. Your vehicle is to be appropriately insured, driven by a licensed driver. Your participation is at your own risk as the City of Brookings is assisting but does not accept liability for your involvement.

Finally, please understand our care and concerns for you. Even losing a single life is too many and over the years we have all seen graduates not survive through the summer after consuming alcohol, marijuana and/or drugs. We all know these activities happen and our goal is not to see you in trouble, but continued enforcement against these activities are in an effort to help ensure your safety. Never operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, pills or other drugs.

Posted June 2, 2021