Across the country, High School Booster Clubs, PTAs, and graduating Seniors have embraced Project Graduation, a safe, after graduation celebration. Anyone with a teenager old enough to drive knows the relief felt when our kids make it home safe this time of year. If you're not a parent of a teenager, perhaps you saw this week's Grey's Anatomy when a group of Seniors end up in a fatal car accident on graduation day. Some chilling statistics:
Alcohol kills more young people than all illicit drugs combined.
A national survey conducted in 2006 showed that 73% of high school seniors have tried alcohol.
Over 2,000 youth ages 15-20 were killed in traffic crashes involving alcohol in 2005.
Started in 1979 in the Oxford Hills area Maine after they experienced a tragic seven alcohol and drug-related teen deaths during commencement season, Project Graduation has spread to all 50 states, providing a safe and fun filled post-graduation night. Creative booster club parents and student committee members plan engaging activities that last all night in a lock-in drug and alcohol free environment.
Music, games, food, communal art projects and more. Some schools partner Project Graduation with a community outreach activity like a food drive. The only thing limiting the fun and power of this event is your committee's collective imagination. In many communities, local retailers sponsor events and provide food, prizes and take-away gifts for Seniors. Below are some time-tested Project Graduation favorites. Please be sure to check the Comments section of this post and add your school's memorable Project Graduation traditions.
- DJ, live bands, and entertainment such as comedians and performance artists
- Rent Photo Booths, Sumo Suits, Human Gyroscope, and other fun activities
- Garage Band & Guitar Hero competition
- Set a fun theme like Oscars or Luau
- Karaoke with prizes
- Bonfire (safety first, of course)
If you're on the Project Graduation committee, check out VolunteerSpot's free and easy online volunteer sign up tool. With our free volunteer scheduling software, parents pick a volunteer spot with a few clicks and choose how they want to help: as chaperons, setting up and cleaning up, entertainment, and more. VolunteerSpot also helps assemble donations of needed food and supplies. No more reply-all email or clipboard signup sheets to have a fabulous event - just simple online volunteer coordination powered by VolunteerSpot.
Please share your favorite Project Graduation activities and traditions below by clicking 'Comments'.
Our Seniors work on a video all year capturing campus highlights and messages from everyone. It's screened for the first time at Project Graduation. Year after year, it's become the highlight of the night - something all the seniors (and chaperoning parents)look forward to. We (Booster club) sell copies of the DVD for $20, and that helps fund Project Graduation for the following year.
Posted by: SarahOC | May 09, 2009 at 07:48 PM
I loved the wish sail. We each wrote a wish for our future on a slip of paper and attached it to a large sail (big flag) with a safety pin and ribbon. At dawn, the sail was flown over campus and stayed there for a week - maybe longer.
Posted by: GMaddie | May 09, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Our students love the Grad Canvas. The art department stretches a huge canvas as a graffiti wall and sets up all kinds of paint and supplies. Throughout the night, the seniors decorate the canvas - they are so talented and creative - it's a masterpiece by morning. We've done it for five years now and it makes for an awesome decoration in the commons and for future PG nights.
Posted by: MsPennyHere | May 10, 2009 at 10:57 AM
All night poker tournament - winner gets a BIG prize donated by Boosters.
Posted by: jackson88 | May 10, 2009 at 06:18 PM
PRIZES are key for getting good attendance. Our school had laptops, iPods, Guitar Hero, and scholarship $ as grand prizes and LOTS of smaller rewards such as itunes cards, movie passes, baseball tix, Six Flag passes, free fast-food certificates, etc. Throughout the night, there were several games and raffles so everyone had a chance to win, and knew someone who did. Most of the prizes are donated and a few are purchased with Project Graduation funds.
Posted by: SJT | May 10, 2009 at 07:19 PM
We had local salons donate free manicures, pedicures, hair services, massages - the girls loved it (and some guys too). Some set up on site during the party and some were raffle prizes.
Posted by: chloe | May 10, 2009 at 08:04 PM
One word - CASINO! Black jack, roulette, craps, poker - you name it - a little monopoly money, rented gaming tables,and donated prizes and the kids are engaged all night long.
Posted by: starsistah | May 11, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Our school rents out the Main Event - bowling, rock climbing gym, arcade, pool, etc. They close the bar - of course.
Posted by: SwimMomof4 | June 03, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Live Music! Get the band(s)...Seniors will follow!
Posted by: Chris Pelters | June 03, 2009 at 04:40 PM
These are great ideas!! Love the sail idea...we send our kids off with great promise and wind for their sails don't we! I am a parent in charge of the Project Grad for 2010 @ my daughter's high school and I will be checking back for some ideas. THANKS for your contributions
Posted by: ReneeB | August 05, 2009 at 04:34 PM
Hello,
We had our first Project Graduation event this year; unfortunately, for several years our school did not have a Project Grad. Anyhow, it was alot of work (as you all may know) and yet it was rewarding to see so many kids enjoy their graduation night in safe and fun filled environment. This year our PTA is thinking of doing away with the program and we have some parents interested in starting a Project Grad Booster Club. Does anyone out there have any information relating to the startup of a Project Grad Booster Club? Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Jo
Posted by: Jo | August 25, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Hi Jo -
Your school is fortunate to have a parent like you willing to make things happen!! I found a few quick Google resources about how to start a Booster Club to get you started. You may also want to consult with your school PTA/PTO and school district attorney to determine if you should seek 501(c) non-profit status. Our school band Booster Club is a nonprofit, but my daughter's dance team boosters are not.
http://www.fundrazine.com/booster-club-fundraisers/starting-a-booster-club/
http://www.ehow.com/how_4925645_start-music-booster-club.html
Posted by: KL | August 26, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Im In a TV Class where we make vidieo's for the students to watch on wednesday and thursday, and im new to it. Im doing project grad. theme, but i don't know what it is. Im a senior so i havn't had mine yet. What do you do there, what is there, oh...we have a theme, it's beach so it helps me a little.
Posted by: Bre | January 22, 2010 at 09:32 AM
How cool you're on the TV/Video team for project graduation. Each Project Grad Night is totally unique and different depending on the Grads and the boosters that support them. I'm guessing your job will be to put together an awesome compilation of the year's events to show at the party -- with beach music.... Maybe to also film the festivities.
HAPPY GRADUATION!!
Please share your school's best practices with us for future planning teams.
Posted by: Jess | January 22, 2010 at 01:51 PM
We has success with a fun "name sake lounge" non alcoholic drinks where creatively named after teachers and workers Sterling Stingle for Mrs. Stingle, which was diet 7up with an olive, chocolate milk was named after the football coach, some names rhymned, like Stunning Dunning, and we served soft drinks juices etc with fun garnish, we can preach to kids to not drink alcohol and have fun why not show them how it is done, serve in cool glasses, smoothies with gummy treats on top the ideas are endless, just try to get feel for teachers that are fun and kids would like to try their names sake drink, they loved the umbrellas in the drinks!
Posted by: Kay M. | September 17, 2010 at 10:20 PM