Grad Dinner Dance: X-Rated

The Oak Bay High School graduating class of 2010 were dressed to the nines this past Saturday. The group gathered on St. Dennis street for a block party with their families around 3:30pm to endure billions of cameras and painful cheek cramps. Girls shone in their extravagant dresses and the boys looked smashing in their suits and tuxes. While the girls complained about the mounds of make-up on their face and hairspray in their hair, they had to admit that they had never felt more beautiful. Parents were gushing over their daughters and other daughters the entire time and the boys couldn't help but stare, barely recognizing their fellow classmates. "This is the most beautiful grad class ever!" commented an official photographer. The boys, although they hadn't spent nearly as much money or time on their look as the girls, sported their outfits with pride and maturity. As the couples, with their colour coordinated outfits, walked and posed (and danced in the case of Nicole Van Belleghem and Peter Noakes) their way down the red carpeted, the flash of cameras was endless, blinding the grads as they finally made it to the arch at the end of the carpet.

Nicole Van Belleghem and Peter Noakes spice up their walk down the red carpet.

Around 5:30pm the buses began to whisk the grad class away from the proud families and excited cameras to the Laurel Point to enjoy a dinner, slideshow and dance. The night continued, parentless, with friends snapping photos of friends and group shots being interrupted by a very happy Jaqueline Metcalfe. The fountain made a very romantic place for couples to snap some good pictures and the men to get a few more bromance shots before dinner.

These Monterey Grads have come a long way since Grade 7. Five years together and they are still smiling.

Dinner consisted of bred, pasta, seafood and some cold meats, failing to meet Justine Sanders expectations, "It was a good try I guess," she said about the food. Aija Salvador piled her plate full of food, clearly stoked about the buffet. Salvador also took advantage of the bottomless punch bowl using a coffee mug to scoop the red punch when there was no ladle to be found.

Jeremy Bell considers what to have for dinner, while Kristin Robinson, Thomas Hoyer-Wood and Chris Wright smile for their billionth picture (note: this is probably the only picture where Hoyer-Wood is without his hat!)

After dinner, the graduates waited outside as the staff set up for the slideshow. While they waited, the girls freshened up in the bathroom and the guys passed around a cigar at the fountain, much to the teachers' disapproval. Once it was ready, the grads filed in for Al Charmicahel's video montage of Grad X. He tried his best to capture every part and person of the grad class while throwing in some humour. Despite his best efforts about using voice overs and funy quotes, the pictures of Andrew Lily, comments from Rupert Vey and chant from Sam Tibbets "Crowd Surf Drew" seemed to make the grads laugh more than anything.

Once the endless slideshow ended, the grads waited outside once again, feasting on dessert and cups of coffee (in preparation for a long night). The dance began, drawing a total of 5 people for the first three songs but once more popular songs started to play and people finished their desserts, the dance floor was quickly populated. Unfortunately, during a song the speakers blew-probably catching grads in mid fist pump. This did not phaze the hoards of guys who surrounded the four casino tables, betting chips that will one day actually mean something. After a short set-back, the DJ managed to fix the speakers and the energetic grads were back at it, harder than ever.

Slowly the population diminished and some groups of grads were whisked away in limosine. Once the festivities at the Laurel Point came to an official close, the grads moved on to their next event- After Grad- and, well, let's just say they really know how to celebrate. "Although I can't remember a lot of it, the after grad party was the best part of the night!" commented Rae Linklater. They enjoyed music, red plastic cups and cameras that took pictures too embarrassing to put up on Facebook.

This Grad class is one of the best Oak Bay High School has ever seen and the class of 2011 has a lot to live up to!