Written by Monique Castillo

Break a sweat, but bring your check. Senior Class expenses are leaving parents pockets’ empty. Gone are the kindergarten days where the biggest expense was a new pair of shoes that could be purchased for under twenty dollars; now we’re talking major dinero, hundreds that is (thousands for some)! Few of us think about things like financial obligations until the actual senior year. Some seniors have jobs, so fees come out of their own pockets which teaches values and responsibility: others, however, must rely on parents and guardians to write the checks. Parents are already overwhelmed with bills; to have to come up with more cash is often very difficult.

The Senior Prom and Grad Nite (Disneyland) account for the bulk of senior fees. Each senior must come up with an additional $80 (estimate) to cover the Grad Night ticket and transportation expenses. Fundraising is key if seniors want to keep senior dues at a minimum. The more a senior class fundraises, the cheaper the senior year will be.

Ms.Ramirez, Lincoln High’s Senior Advisor, shared that her senior year in 1997 was much cheaper.  “Our prom tickets were about $40. We had to pay dues back in my day and I can say yearbooks have always been expensive. Our grad night was much different though. We had it at our school and it was free.” Ramirez couldn’t emphasize enough that,  “The more we fundraise, the less our senior year is. Students don’t realize how important it is, until their senior year. All students should start fundraising for their class early in their freshmen year so by the time they’re seniors, they will have enough money and everything will be cheaper.”

In order to help seniors and parents, Ms. Ramirez created a senior package, that included many items all into one. Senior parent, Olivia Rodriguez, added, “I have no problem paying for the senior package. Although it sounds like a lot, the package is a good deal because it includes everything the student needs. I also understand that we, as parents, have bills and other things to pay for, so that is always a problem. Maybe if we plan a few years before and save the money for what our child will need, things will be easier.” 

 Students at Lincoln High worry about money on a daily basis; the average student doesn’t have money to spare.  Senior, Marisela Rodriguez, thinks the final high school year is expensive. Rodriguez offered, “Overall, the senior package is just one cost. Other than that, we still have our dress for prom, and everything else we need to buy for that day. I would advise all the underclassmen to get ready beforehand, so things won’t be so hard when the time actually comes for them.”  

Many students agree with Rodriguez, regarding the many expenses, but don’t grasp how quickly senior year will sneak up on them. Freshman Diamond Rivera said, “I am excited to be a senior. Although from what I’ve heard, senior year is expensive so I do believe we should get ready for it now.”

Here is what the Senior Packages consist of :

These two packages were offered during registration/confirmation in the summer of 2009 until November 20^th, 2009. They might go back on sale (for a higher price) if there is enough student interest. Please see Ms. Ramirez in room 469 to sign up. By planning ahead, this would be the best way to get all your senior expenses out the way.