Two new Marlborough traditions, 8Skate and 9th Grade Movie Night, have been implemented for the Classes of 2028 and 2029 after the deans and class councils worked together to create unique events that reflected the spirit of their respective classes.
On May 16, 8th grade students traveled to the Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale for 8Skate, the Class of 2029’s new bonding activity to close out the school year. The event, planned by 8th Grade Dean Danielle Blette, was a result of student input asking for more field trip opportunities.
Roller skating has been a front-runner for the event since the initial planning stages as a safe option with plenty of chaperones available. According to Blette, the “8Skate” rhyme was a major aspect for choosing this event.
There were concerns about whether newly admitted 9th grade students for the 2025-26 school year, if allowed to attend, would feel out of place in such a new environment. But ultimately, it was decided to not invite them due to organizational issues and the desire to focus specifically on the current class.
“8Skate is meant as a chance to have fun celebrating the incredible bonds and memories the Class of 2029 has created over the past two years at Marlborough. We will be ready with a warm welcome to the new 9th graders when they join the class in the fall and start to build new memories,” Blette said.
Additionally, the current 9th grade students attended a movie night at the Montalban Rooftop Theater in Hollywood on the evening of May 16. The event came together after consistent planning from 9th Grade Dean Angela Lin, Class President Alisha Kim and the rest of the 9th Grade Council.
“The 9th Grade Class President has been working with me and planning since the start of the school year,” Lin said.
The idea, initially proposed by Kim, has evolved greatly since its proposal in the summer of 2024. However, due to budget and chaperone constraints, the class eventually decided on a movie night to culminate their middle school experience. The event’s goal was to recreate the sense of unity felt by the class during traditions such as Spirit Week but with a more individualized focus.
“9th grade is a big year for our class. We’ve had a lot of new 9th graders come into the fold, and we also encountered challenges with the fires in January,” Lin said. “I hope the 9th grade celebration is a way for the Class of 2028 to feel like they’re united.”
