SAFE GRAD Fort Richmond Collegiate

THE BEGINNINGS  Provincial organizations including police, ambulance, hospitals, and parents faced grad season with uneasiness.  Grad night incidents included alcohol related charges, boat and automobile accidents, and deaths.  In 1981 these organizations looked for a process to provide a safe celebration for graduates.

WHAT IS SAFE GRAD?  An After-Graduation Party for the students and their guests organized by parents.  A FUN & SAFE environment for graduates to celebrate with their peers.  An alternative to parties held at home or in the community.  An option for those who want to consume alcohol and have a safe ride home at the end of the night.

RULES UNDER AN APPROVED SAFE GRAD  Regular Manitoba liquor laws apply  No one under the age of 18 is allowed to purchase or consume alcohol.  Graduates and guests are not allowed to drive during the event even if not consuming alcohol.  Each graduate can invite one guest to Safe Grad.  All grads and guests must remain until the official check-out time, and be transported home by pre- arranged transportation.  Parents are encouraged to support this as the only grad party and not provide another option before or after the Safe Grad event.

GETTING ORGANIZED!  School Administration and a rep from the grad committee initiate the process of setting up a Safe Grad event.  Parents then take over full responsibility  Each year the parents can go with the tried and true formats or create new traditions.

GENERAL PLANNING  Significant planning involved  “Many hands make light work”.  Chairs, or co-chairs, committee heads and casual volunteers

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE Co-chair Entertainment Prizes Co-chair Food Co-chair Medical Security RegistrationFinance MANY PARENT VOLUNTEERS!!!

ITINERARY FOR SAFE GRAD DAY  FRC Safe Grad occurs after the grad dinner & dance.  10:30-11:00 pm (or at the end of the dinner and dance), Grads, guests and families will be ushered out of the ballroom and into a secure foyer. No one staying for Safe Grad is allowed to leave the bldg.  11:15 pm A secure re-entry “check in” for all students and guests attending Safe Grad.  3:30 am (exact time to be determined by parent committee) Students and guests will be “checked out” and leave by arranged transportation.

GOOD TO KNOW…..  Graduates and guests must register to attend Safe Grad.  A registration and ticket release form will be provided to each household which must be properly completed and signed. Also on website.  Ticket Sale Dates will be advertised.  Ticket price will be determined early in our planning but is approximately $25-30 per person.  All grade 12’s are invited to the Safe Grad event, even if they are not graduating.

PARENT MEETINGS  Approximately one per month from February until June (7:00pm in the library): February 17 th, March 17 th, April 14 th, May 19 th  Parents make many decisions in the planning of Safe Grad.  Information is shared, committees report and discussion ensues.  Grad committee will attend meetings as needed

PARENT VOLUNTEERS  PARENT VOLUNTEERS……….are the most critical part of the event.  Without enough volunteers, the event cannot go ahead.  Ways to volunteer:  On a committee as a leader or helper  Behind the scenes doing research or administration  Supporting the grad committee with fashion show, car wash or other fundraisers  Contribute prizes, or help to accumulate them  During the night of Safe Grad… when an average of 30 – 40 parents are needed for all areas. Shorter shifts can be scheduled.

COMMUNICATION  Safe Grad Website:  Safe Grad Website: The FRC school website has a link to our site under the “Student” heading On the site: Updates, contact names and info, meeting dates & minutes, volunteer info, rules and regulations, registration info & forms, ticket sale info and dates  School Newsletters  School Sign  School Mailings

TIME TO GET STARTED!  Sign up on the Committee Volunteer sheets.  Get excited with your child about the idea of a SAFE after-graduation party; listen to them, gather their ideas and concerns and bring them to the parent meetings for discussion.  Attend the next parent meeting – February 17 SIGN UP TO HELP! IT’S GREAT FUN!