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04/16/2015 08:47 AMSeniors at Guilford High School (GHS) have plenty to look forward to over the coming months—and it doesn’t end at graduation. The evening of commencement, the new grads are invited to Project Graduation 2015 at Chelsea Piers in Stamford. Members of the Class of 2015 recently received a mug as a reminder and invitation to sign up for the event.
Chelsea Piers, developed and managed by the team that built and manages the Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment complex in New York City, should prove to be a big draw.
“It’s big, huge, beautiful, and new,” said Terry O’Hara, publicity coordinator for GHS’s Project Graduation. “It’s a wonderful event.”
Project Graduation is a chaperoned all-night, substance-free event for graduates. In past years, the event has had a 90 percent attendance rate, according to the event’s website, www.ghsprojgrad2015.weebly.com.
“When I was in high school, kids died in and around the graduation time,” said O’Hara. “Project Graduation started in Texas when a small town decided to say enough is enough after losing kids during the graduation season. It’s taken off around the country.”
The cost of Project Graduation is $55 per student before Friday, May 15 or $75 after (permission forms and payment information is available online) with entertainment, food, beverages, and transportation provided. Several fundraisers are being held over the next few weeks in order to help defray the costs of the event.
“We have a great group of parents who have stepped up to help, so we have a wide variety of fundraisers that people can choose from,” said Jenifer McShane, coordinator of Project Graduation. “We tried to do things that are easy for families.”
On Friday, April 24, a pasta dinner will be held in St. George’s Church hall from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for children aged 10 and younger and $10 for adults.
April 24 is also the deadline for plant orders. The 10-inch hanging planters are $20 and filled with locally grown flowers from North Guilford Nursery. The colors of the flowers may vary, and orders need to be picked up on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2.
Farina’s homemade frozen pizzas are also available for sale for $7 each. The 10-inch pizzas can be cooked in 10 minutes. Orders need to be picked up on Tuesday, May 5 at Farina Restaurant.
Other fundraisers include a car wash on Saturday, May 2 at Palumbo’s, a Frogurt event at the end of May, and the sale of “Congratulations Class of 2015” yard signs for $12 or helium balloons for $5. In addition, donations to Project Graduation can be made online.
More than 20 parent volunteers have been working to coordinate the event and the upcoming fundraisers. While there is a solid core of volunteers, they are always looking for more help. Those interested in volunteering can sign up for helping with the pasta dinner, car wash, organizing pizza orders, or balloon distribution online at www.volunteerspot.com/group/10810761608.
McShane was also quick to credit local businesses for their support.
“The local businesses have been terrific,” said McShane. “It’s nice to see so many people involved. It not only supports the seniors, but there’s a community feel to it because so many people have been part of making this happen.
At Project Graduation, with buses leaving GHS at 9:45 p.m. and returning the next day at 5:30 a.m., students will enjoy ice skating, trampolines, rock climbing, ping pong, batting cages, and more as part of Chelsea Piers’s offerings. In addition, Project Graduation volunteers are coordinating other entertainment, such as a hypnotist and Bingo run by the Knights of Columbus.
“It’s the sweetest thing that they come down to do the Bingo, and the kids really enjoy it,” said McShane. “Project Graduation is a really terrific tradition for the town. It’s an inclusive, positive event for all of the kids to attend. The kids get a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with their entire class—that’s a pretty nice way to end your high school career, plus it’s nice for the parents to know that the kids are having a wonderful time and they’re safe.”
For information, visit www.ghsprojgrad2015.weebly.com.