Schools

One-Stop Spot for Fun After Graduation

Fundraisers and events are being held to entice students to sign up for Project Graduation 2011.

The parents can go to bed at ease, and the teenagers have a safe way to spend a final night with all the other 2011 graduates.

And that’s the main point of Project Graduation.

“Parents can go to bed at ease knowing their kids are not running around,” said Bridgewater parent, and organizer of the program, Lynne Bray. “And it is one last night for the seniors to be with all of their friends together.”

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With graduation approaching on June 21, parents with students at  are increasing activities to entice students to sign up to take part in Project Graduation, when the senior class will travel to Dave & Buster’s in the Franklin Mills Mall in Pennsylvania to enjoy activities and spend time with their friends from about 10 p.m. June 21 through 6 a.m. June 22.

Planning for Project Graduation begins in September, with a pep rally to get the students excited, and let them know that the option is available.

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“We had a September kick off so the seniors would be thinking about it all year,” Bray said. “It is like a bug in the ear, and it is time to think about it.”

But now that it is getting closer to the big day, the fundraisers and events have increased, with a recent gold sale to raise money and a Dave & Buster’s prize wheel during lunch periods April 7.

Representatives from the Dave & Busters Fun Patrol brought their big prize wheel, and seniors had the chance to spin for prizes, like coupons for game play and stuffed animals.

Students watched the wheel spin during their lunch periods, rooting for the large prizes and groaning when all they got was a gift certificate for free bowling. But one student walked away with a large stuffed horse when he won the big prize.

“We have all samples of mid- to low-grade prizes,” said Stacey McErlane, a member of the Fun Patrol. “We go to a lot of schools and travel a lot.”

McErlane said Dave & Busters is very involved with communities, and likes to work with schools for after-prom events and others.

“And for Project Graduation, the kids get to say they were there past hours,” she said. “They really get the whole run of the place.”

While there, the students will have a buffet dinner, buffet breakfast, 18 bowling lanes, 14 pool tables, 200 arcade games, a Defender Dome, candid photos, prizes, power cards and other games.

This is the second year in a row that Bridgewater's Project Graduation has been held at Dave & Busters.

“This is a one-stop shop,” said Judi Condo, who also plans Project Graduation, of Dave & Busters that provides food, entertainment and games. “It was our choice first, and it was a no-brainer.”

“And the kids hear about it, and are excited,” she added.

At this point, Bray said, they are expecting about 400 students to participate in Project Graduation, or about half the class.

“If we get more than half, we’ve really done our jobs,” she said. “We do everything we can to keep this in their minds.”

The cost per student to participate in Project Graduation, Bray said, is $80, but they only charge students $25 as a deposit.

“This makes the students lock in,” she said.

Last year, Condo said, they had about 350 students participating in Project Graduation, or a little under half, but this year, she thinks there might be more.

“This year’s class seems more enthusiastic,” she said.

And Bray said they advertise as much as possible because paying in advance is required, and they cannot accept people after registration has closed.

“There are so many logistics with drivers and chaperones,” Bray said. “We can’t have a surge of kids suddenly.”

But, Bray said, people usually start to respond positively once they see who else is attending the event.

“Usually once they see who is going, they catch on,” she said. “Nine times out of 10 though, someone wants to go after the cut off.”

In addition to the offerings at Dave & Busters, Bray said, they have had a Henna tattoo artist in the past as well as a spot for boardwalk-style photos set up at the venue. She said they are hoping to have these again this year.

“We let the kids vote on what kinds of activities they want,” she said. “We want them as involved as possible.”

In previous years, Project Graduation has been held at such locations as the Rat at Rutgers University and the Woodbridge Center. But, Condo said, then they were required to bring their own activities.

“At Dave & Busters, we don’t have to bring anything,” she said.

And senior class adviser Rachel DeVico said she is glad the event is offered to the students, and thinks it will be a definite bonus for them.

“I think it will be very successful because this is an involved senior class,” she said. “And this gives them a safe place to go after graduation.”

And in addition to having the Dave & Busters prize wheel, the Project Graduation organizers are holding several other fundraisers to raise funds for the event.

Fundraisers have included a Casino Night, a Rita’s event, the availability of Panther pins, a raffle for a $50 American Express gift card and the sale of commencement flowers, among others. In addition, they also have a "sponsor a senior campaign" to raise money for the trip.

“And we make announcements on Bridgewater TV,” Condo said. “We are trying everything we can to keep Project Graduation in people’s mind.”

For more information, click on the Project Graduation link on the district’s high school website.


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