Grad time is almost here
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
Parents of Strathmore High School students are sponsoring a formal graduation banquet for the second year in a row.
Gisela Kost and Janell Peltonen have sons who are graduating this year, and they are organizing this years banquet.
Last year both women had helped with the banquet, serving water to the graduates and their guests and helping to clean up after the event.
“I don’t want my son to just be in our backyard with just our immediate family – I want him to be with all his buddies that he’s went to school with for 12 years,” said Peltonen.
So last year parents banded together to host a banquet in the arena.
“We were grade 11 parents last year, we helped out at the banquet pouring water, clearing up, that sort of thing. And so we started another tradition so this year – we recruited two grade 11 moms and they recruited some others to help and so that next year they will be the ones who will plan the banquet,” said Kost.
This year’s theme will be Greek. The students are the ones who pick the theme and then it is up to the parent coordinators to put it together.
“Last year’s parents were kind enough to leave a little money behind for us for this year, but we had to put a lot of money in at the beginning for deposits, so we’re hoping to leave enough money for next year, so that no one has to put money out of their own pocket,” said Peltonen. Peltonen and Kost are hoping things will be cheaper and easier as the years go by. They are also buying decorations, which can be reused, in future years.
The caterer for the banquet will be Cal-B-Que, and a local photographer will be coming in to do the professional photos for those who want them. There will be a $40 sitting fee, and out of that, eachstudent will receive a DVD with four to five edited photos and one 8×10 print.
Cary Mullen, motivational speaker and former Olympic competitor, will be the guest speaker for the banquet. There are 87 students confirmed and paid for, but over 700 guests are expected due to the fact some students ordered a dozen tickets.
The tickets were $35 dollars, which is $7 less than last year.
“The money from the tickets goes towards the food, rental of the arena, chairs, etc,” said Kost.
Members of the community have been coming forward and are donating to the banquet.
A few of the problems that occurred last year are being corrected and worked upon this year, things like being able to hear the DJ no matter where you are in the arena.
Kost and Peltonen both plan to help next year’s Grade 12 parents with the banquet if they ask for help. The banquet begins at 4:30 p.m. June 5.
Safe Grad will also be taking place on June 5. This will be the third year Bonnie Deeg has coordinated the event. It will also be hosted at the arena.
The Safe Grad program was implemented in Canada in 1981. The program was created due to the high ratio of teenage injuries and fatalities that were related to graduation parties.
Safe Grad is organized by parents, grads, and community volunteers, and is a 100 per cent adult supervised venue.
Everyone who attends must have parental approval, and every parent is phoned after the forms are turned in, to confirm the attendee is allowed to participate.
Consent forms were handed out April 23, 26 & 27 at lunchtime and after school. The high school does not approve of Safe Grad.
“At least it’s safe, you’re not going to stop kids from drinking alcohol on grad so at least keep them contained, drive them home,” said Peltonen.
“We have hired Much Music Video Dance with two jumbo screens, as well as rented sumo suits from Astro Jump for the event,” said Deeg.
Parents and participants of Safe Grad have one goal and follow the motto ‘Keeping dreams alive by keeping our youth safe and putting them back into the arms of their loved ones.’
The doors to Safe Grad will be opening at 11 p.m.