Project Grad 2013 needs you!

Do you have a son or daughter graduating from Montville High School or Palmer Academy?  If so, this blog is for you!  

For about 17 years now parents of graduates have been joining forces to give their graduates a safe, chaperoned, drug & alcohol free graduation party,  This event has been dubbed;  "Project Grad".  The party is a fantastic all night celebration!  The students are whisked off immediately following their graduation ceremony to a secret location.  Once there, they are able to really enjoy each other's company for one last group excursion before they move on to college, the military or full time employment.  All kinds of fun activities are planned in a safe environment with NO drugs or alcohol.  Studies have shown that often student run graduation parties can be hazardous. Underage drinking and drug use are sometimes the theme.  These parties can result in tragedy.  It is for this reason that parents have banned together to keep kids safe during their post graduation celebration.

The class of 2013 in Montville has 161 students.  We currently have a core group of about 15 parents who are feverishly working to raise the money needed to provide the opportunity to attend this party to every student who completes the graduation requirements.  You may have seen us working bake sales, peddling MHS beads and other "goodies", selling glow sticks at the Haunted Hayride, gift wrapping at the mall or handing out vouchers for local restaurants who sponsor the project through "dine out" events.  To date, we have raised about $13,000 toward the $25,000 goal for the all night Project Grad celebration.  We need to reach our goal before graduation in June.

So, how can you help?  First of all, if you have a child who is graduating from Montville High or Palmer Academy, you have probably received a mailing from Project Grad earlier in the year.  We ask that each family who has a child graduating contribute $60 toward the cost of the party.  That boils down to about $7.50/hour (party is generally from 10pm - 6am)...not bad in this economy! The kids will have an enormous variety of food to eat during the night, soda, water, juice to drink, all night, top class entertainment, all night, and also souvenirs of this last class event.  The students are not required to bring any money to the event!

We understand that not everyone will be able to afford paying the full $60.  We know this as we also have prom and class dues to think about too.  Even if you can't pay the $60, a smaller contribution would be gladly accepted!  We also have many practical ways that you can help out: attending and participating in Project Grad events, sharing your fundraising ideas, offering to chair a fundraiser yourself!  Our goal is that every graduate will be able to attend the party and no one will be turned away.

The MHS/Palmer Website has a page dedicated to Project Grad:  http://www.montvilleschools.org/subsite/mhs/page/project-gradation-722      

We try to keep this site updated.  We also have a FACEBOOK page:

 PROJECT GRAD 2013

Information is updated regularly on Facebook.  Join us or "like" us so you are in the loop!  

Our mailing address:  

MHS Project Graduation 2013
c/o Montville Youth Service Bureau
289 Norwich-New London Tpke.
Uncasville, CT 06382

Finally, we do meet the first Tuesday of every month at the MHS Library at 7pm.  We are always looking for new ideas and new faces to help us with this project.  It is a friendly group of people so come out and make some new friends!  

The co-chairs for this year's Project Graduation are:

• Christine Meisner christinemeisner@sbcglobal.net
• Susan Rickards  srickards@ct.metrocast.net

Contact one of them, or me...we would be happy to talk to you about how you can help!  

Below is a calendar of upcoming events.  We hope to see you soon!  Thank you to all those who have supported Project Grad and continue to support us during our fundraising initiatives!

JANUARY:

 Saturday, 1/26 – Tag Sale – Fair Oaks 9-1pm

Monday, 1/28 – Jim Spinnato, Hypnotist Show 7pm @MHS.Tickets are $10/ea at the door 

FEBRUARY:

Thursday, 2/6 – Chili’s Dine Out event.  4-9pm – Voucher required

Saturday, 2/16 – Montville Pizza Dine Out event – all day – no voucher required

• Date TBD – Polar Plunge – information available on Facebook Page as details develop 

MARCH:

Wednesday, 3/6 – Chili’s Dine Out event – 4-9pm – Voucher required

Friday, 3/15 – California Kitchen (Foxwoods) Dine Out event – all day – Voucher Required

• Friday, 3/15 – FOXWOODS Benefit Bingo – Tickets $15/ea must be purchased in advance.  Doors open at 4:00pm – Game starts at 6:30pm

Saturday, 3/16 – Montville Pizza Dine Out event – all day – no voucher required

Saturday, March 30 – Tag Sale – Fair Oaks 9-1pm 

APRIL:

Wednesday, 4/10 - Chili’s Dine Out event.  4-9pm – Voucher required

Saturday, April 20 - Montville Pizza Dine Out event – all day – no voucher required

• “PARTY IN THE VILLE” – Annual Event at the Brown Derby
• Scrapbooking / Vendor event – Date TBD 

MAY: 

Wednesday, 5/8 - Chili’s Dine Out event.  4-9pm – Voucher required

Saturday, 5/18 - Montville Pizza Dine Out event – all day – no voucher required

• Montville McDonalds Dine Out event & Car Wash – Date TBD 

JUNE:

Saturday, 6/1 – Tag Sale – Fair Oaks 9-1pm

Wednesday, 6/5 - Chili’s Dine Out event.  4-9pm – Voucher required                                                                                                               

**Ongoing Sales of MHS Beads.  

We are also looking for local business support and sponsorship as well.  Please contact Kathy Pierce:  jonkathyandkids@juno.com

 For More information on events, dates and further details, like us on FACEBOOK:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Grad-2013