Monday, September 28, 2015

BAKED GOODS NEEDED PLEASE.............

Missed our first blog?  CLICK HERE to learn all about Project Safe Grad

Safe Grad Bake Sale at Jonathan Edwards Harvest Festival
We are planning a HUGE BAKE SALE for the Jonathan Edwards Harvest Festival. This is an all weekend event and typically has 1,500-3,000 visitors during that time. This is a great opportunity for us but we will need some volunteers and LOTS of baked goods. Please remember many hands make light work.
  • All Items should be prepackage for sale for $1.00 (approximately the size of a zipper closure sandwich bag. Example 2-med cookies, 1-large cookie or 4-small cookies.).
  • Sorry NO CUPCAKES There will be a vendor there selling only cupcakes and in fairness we will refrain from selling them.
  • All items WITH NUTS MUST be labeled as such
Please drop off items at S.H.S Front Office on Wednesday (9/30), Thursday (10/1) and Friday (10/2) until 3:30 pm.

We will also have a table set up outside the football field Friday (10/2) from 5:15-7:00.

DATE: 10/03/2015 ( Sat 12:00PM - 6:00PM EDT ) 

LOCATION: Jonathan Edwards Winery


PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK TO SIGN UP FOR AN ITEM...........
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4dada72ea75-safe

Saturday, September 19, 2015

PLANNED AGENDA FOR 9/28/15 COMMITTEE MEETING

Missed our first blog?  CLICK HERE to learn all about Project Safe Grad

The next Class of 2016 Project Safe Grad Committee meeting will be held on Monday, September 28th at 6:45pm in the SHS Commons.

In the past we have held meetings in more of an Open Forum manner. However, starting with this next meeting, we will be following a set agenda. Below please find the agenda for the 9/28 meeting.

  • Co-Chair Report - Kristen & Patti
  • Treasurer’s Report - Deb
  • Committees Share Progress
    • Communications Update - Christine
    • Restaurant Night – Cheryl
    • Flamingo Flocking – Jana
    • Jonathan Edwards Bake Sale– Jenn
    • SHS Ornaments – Deb
    • Donation Jars – Laurel
    • Fla-Mingle Aquarium Party – Joelle
    • Ford Car Spring Event – Amy
    • 2016 Class Photo  - Liz
  • New Business



9/19/15:  REPORT ON COLLECTED FUNDS

Missed our first blog?  CLICK HERE to learn all about Project Safe Grad

As the year progresses, we will periodically post a Report on this blog for our Class of 2016 families to see where we are at with achieving our Total $ Goal.

As of September 19, 2015 we have collected:
$1,375
Family Donations
$2,158
Flamingo Flocking
$2,900
Business Donations
$2,250
Class of 2015 Donation
$630
SHS Ornaments
$355
Back to School Bake Sale
$410
Local Basket Raffle
$57
Coin Jars
$10,135
Total

In addition, our Class has started a Go Fund Me Page.  The link is:



FUNDRAISING ETIQUETTE

FROM FRESHMAN TO SENIOR YEAR:  WHAT'S APPROPRIATE?


Missed our first blog?  CLICK HERE to learn all about Project Safe Grad

When can a Class begin fundraising?
This question has always been a little vague, but this post will help define the guidelines for all going forward. Here is our takeaway from a recent one on one with Mr. Friese regarding fundraising at Stonington High School.

  • Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Classes may all fund raise for their Project Safe Grad Party at anytime.  However, those fundraisers must be small in nature.  Examples of approved underclassman fundraisers are:  selling ornaments, umbrellas, and other like items.
  • During underclassman years, when in doubt, run your fundraising ideas by Mr. Friese and get his opinion on if it is an appropriate/approved fundraiser or not.
  • The following fund raisers belong solely to the Senior Class:
    • Back to School Bake Sale
    • February Aquarium Fundraiser (Large event which includes: food, band, & silent auction)
    • Ford Car Fundraiser
When in doubt, ask Mr. Friese - he wants to assist!
UNDERCLASSMAN PARENTS
A SPECIAL POST JUST FOR YOU

PLANNING AHEAD:  THE KEY TO SUCCESS


Missed our first blog?  CLICK HERE to learn all about Project Safe Grad

So you have read our first blog and you know all about Project Safe Grad, now what? First let's talk cost.  Why $27,000? What is the breakdown?


$20,000 - $21,000
Event Venue
$750
Food for Graduation Reception
$3,000
Insurance, Buses, Bus Drivers, Tee-Shirts & Beach Towels, Westerly Sun Thank You Ad
$2,000
Play It Forward to Junior Class

What is the best way to tackle this?
The below information are suggestions only.  Your Class may decide to tackle this event in a whole different manner.  That is completely up to your committee.

FRESHMAN YEAR:
  • During the Spring of Freshman Year 2 to 3 parents should form a "Pre-Committee" for your class.  Don't worry - you don't have to be Committee Chair by starting and/or volunteering in this "Pre-Committee"
  • The "Pre-Committee" should begin drafting an informative letter that will be mailed out in October of Sophomore Year.  
SOPHOMORE YEAR
  • Acquire your classes database in excel form from the Stonington High School Office.  This do this, make a request through Mr. Friese.  Feel free to email him anytime - he is there to help!
  • Set up a gmail account with every parent's email in your contacts.  (You will use this to send out eblasts to your class going forward).
  • Use the excel database to extract mailing addresses and make labels.
  • Your letter should list all the details of the party - use our first blog for your details.  Don't be shy, spread the word!  Let everyone know that this is an awesome Stonington High School tradition, and an expensive one too.  Include your classes email address (gmail) in your letter so if any parents have questions, they know how to reach you.
  • Ask each family to donate $30 (per student) to your Class's Project Safe Grad Fund.  Set a deadline to receive the funds.  A suggestion would be:  mail out letters on Oct 1st and set a deadline to receive funds by Oct 31st.
  • Request that the families send the checks to the SHS Office. Find out who to make the checks out to.  It will most likely be:  Class of 20## Graduation Party Committee.  Make sure this information is clearly written in your letter.  Ask the SHS Office set up a mailbox for your committee.  
  • Mail - yes, snail mail - your letters out to all families.
  • One week after you have mailed your letters, send out an eblast asking families if they have received your letter.  Then, take the opportunity to list all the facts regarding the party again in your email.
  • Once your letters are mailed check the mailbox weekly.  Open a bank account and deposit all checks.  Keep a record of who paid.
  • If need be, in a few months time, send a reminder via email to only those families who did not send in the $30 during the first request.
JUNIOR YEAR
  • Request an updated database of your Class in September.  Add new students and take off students who have left the school.  Remember to check email addresses and update your gmail contact list appropriately.
  • In October, send out your second installment of your family contribution letters.  Ask for another $30.  Follow the same steps above for composing the letter and collecting the funds.  
  • During February of Junior Year, send out an eblast asking for committee members.  You should have your first official full committee meeting in early March of Junior Year.
  • It is a tradition that the Junior Class hosts a graduation reception for the Senior Class.  This is really a wonderful tradition, see below for specifics on this event.
JUNIOR CLASS HOSTS THE SENIOR YEAR GRADUATION RECEPTION
  • Graduation begins at 6:30pm on the last day of school.  At the close of the ceremony, the Seniors and their families will come into the SHS Cafeteria/Commons for a Junior Class hosted reception.
  • This will take some planning ahead on the Junior Class but it is completely manageable so don't fret.
  • Plan on feeding 800 people.
  • The Senior Class should, if they budgeted and collected funds well, provide the Junior Class with $750 to purchase food and paper goods.
  • The Junior Class will then purchase pizza (Big Y), grinders, veggie plates, fruit plates, and lemonade.
  • The Junior Class will also buy paper goods such as table clothes, plates, cups, and napkins.
  • The Junior Class will (by use of Sign Up Genius) request Junior families to bake brown & white themed baked goods.  Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and specialty items are perfect and special.  
  • The Junior Class will (by use of Sign Up Genius) request Junior families to donated bottles of water.
  • Balloons and home grown flower arrangements make wonderful decorations around the Commons Area.
  • On graduation day, Junior Class parents and student volunteers will arrive at the school to decorate and prepare for the reception.  Shifts will be divvied out ahead of time for pre, during, and after reception duties.
  • At the close of graduation, Seniors and their families will make their way to the Commons area to partake in the After Graduation Reception.
  • The reception last 45 minutes to 1 hour.  During this time Junior Parents keep stocking the food tables while Junior students assist in systematically passing out the Senior Class tee-shirts and beach towels to the graduates.

JUNIOR CLASS RECEPTION REFLECTION.....

Last year, the graduates of the Class of 2015 began to walk into the Commons area around 7:30pm with their families.  They were dressed to impress.  The girls in their dresses and the boys in their shirts and ties underneath their graduation robes. Happiness filled the Commons with smiles a mile wide.  The graduates and their families enjoyed the reception very much.  Baked goods were a hit as well as the veggie platters (who knew?).  Graduated Seniors made their way over to the Junior students and picked up their pre-assembled tee-shirt and beach towel bundle.  The Seniors also noted their specific assigned bus # for the Graduation Party which would be immediately following the reception.

Slowly the crowd began to disperse.  Seniors made their way to other locations in the school to change.  By 8:30pm all of the Seniors returned to the Commons area dressed in their newly acquired brown Class of 2015 tee shirts and comfy shorts and sneakers.  Senior Class parent chaperons also emerged dressed in comfortable attire too.  Relatives said their goodbyes to their graduated Seniors. Before you knew it there was a sea of brown tee-shirts in front of all of the Junior parents. One huge crowd of very happy graduates from the Class of 2015.  To be accurate:  93% of the graduated class stood before us.

Senior parent chaperons surrounded the graduates.  The crowd hushed and the leading Senior Class Parent chaperon announced loudly "Class of 2015 it is time to board the busses and head to your Graduation Party!"  The crowd bellowed with cheers and hoots and happy hoorahs!  And seriously, within 3 minutes the graduated Class of 2015 made their way out of the Commons area and boarded their busses.

The Junior Class parents and students were literally the only people left in the Commons,  Many of us with tears in our eyes knowing that in one year's time, that will be our children heading out to their final field trip as a Stonington High School student.

True Story.


Thursday, September 17, 2015

MEET THE COMMITTEE

Missed our first blog?  CLICK HERE to learn all about Project Safe Grad.

Who's Who on the 2016 Project Safe Grad Committee?

Specific Positions:


Co-Chairs:  
Kristen Morehouse & Patti Frosti

Treasurer:  
Deb Turrisi

Communications (Eblast/Blog):
Christine Andrews

Flamingo Flocking Coordinator:
Jana Geiger

SHS Bear Ornaments:
Deb Turrisi & Christine Andrews

Sign-Up Genius Coordinator:
Nicola Whalen

Fla-Mingle Chairs (Aquarium February Event):
Joelle Wellemans, Deb Turrisi, & Amy Arruda

Ford Car Spring Event:
Amy Arruda

Monthly Restaurant Night Coordinator:
Cheryl Reagan

Jonathan Edwards Fall Bake Sale Coordinator:
Jennifer Geary

Stamps / Local Gift Basket (Back to School Night) Fundraiser:
Chris Eckersley

Class Photo Coordinator:
Liz Hall

Donation Jars:
Laurel Egan

Additional Committee Members:
Cheryl Monteiro
Lori Taylor
Robin Swenarton
Suzanne Talbot
Susan Sainsbury

New Committee Members Always Welcome!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

PROJECT SAFE GRAD

A STONINGTON HIGH SCHOOL TRADITION:
7 YEARS STRONG!!

Whether you are a SENIOR or a FRESHMAN - you will want to hear about this last hurrah at SHS!

What is Project Safe Grad??
  • An alcohol-free, all night party held at a special location in Southeastern Connecticut.
Who attends the party?  
  • Graduated seniors and a handful of parent chaperons.
How many graduating seniors typically attend?
  • On average 93% of the senior class attends this party.
What time is the party?
  • The party starts as soon as the graduation reception ends (busses leave at 9pm) and is over by 5am.
How do the students get to the party?
  • Students are bussed from Stonington High School to and from. Students are not allowed to drive to the party.  Each student is assigned a bus number and will board that bus all night.  
    • From the high school to the Event Venue.
    • And then again all night when our school as a whole is moving from activity to activity.
Where is the location?
  • Although the party is held in the same location each year, we will not post it here.  Many students with older siblings know the location; however, many more students do not know and enjoy not knowing. So it is not technically a surprise, but we will be vague in our posts. The committee is happy to share the location with any parent who asks.
What happens there?
  • The students will have a great time participating in a variety of fun & entertaining activities. Some of those activities may include:  paintball, a dance party, a variety show, a street carnival, bowling, swimming, etc.
Will there be food?  Is it included?
  • Yes, there will be lots of food.  From meal items like hamburgers to dessert items like ice cream.  The students will be fed well.
What identifies our students from other high schools that night?
  • Our students will all receive a brown SHS Senior tee-shirt to wear on that night and keep.
  • Also our students will receive a SHS themed beach towel to use and keep as well.
  • Students who choose not to attend the party will also receive these "graduation gifts".
How much does the party cost?
  • When all is said and done, the class will need to collect $27,000 by May of Senior Year.
    • Money is raised in three manners:  Family Contribution, Fundraising and Corporate Donations.
    • The graduating class's Project Safe Grad Committee will most likely begin collecting family contributions during the fall of sophomore year.  Then once again during the fall of both junior and senior years.  A typical requested contribution amount is $30 each year (fall) per student. Three installments equals $90 per student by the fall of senior year, which is a huge advantage for your Class as a whole. 
    • During Senior Year, the class will fund raise and solicit corporations for donations to help defer the cost per student.
    • Keep in mind that the more the class collects ahead of time, the less the class will need to fund raise Senior Year.  Senior Year is a very hectic time for most families, as you can imagine - so plan ahead for assured success.
What happens if the Class does not collect/raise the $27,000 by Spring of Senior Year?
  • If a Class does not raise the full amount by Spring of Senior Year, then a per student ticket price will be required to make up the shortage.
How does a Class avoid not having to pay a per student ticket fee in the Spring of Senior Year?
  • During underclassman years begin collecting family contributions.
  • As a parent, react when a request for a contribution is asked for.
    • Send in the requested amount.
    • Or, if an amount is not specifically requested, send in an amount that you feel is appropriate, every contribution helps. Remember the price is approximately $140 per student if the event was solely funded by the parents.
  • Join the committee and plan fundraisers.
  • Participate in all fundraisers.
  • Send out donation request to corporations and local businesses during early Senior Year.
  • With proper planning and participation, the Class will be successful!!
Now that you have read our first post, please read our others.  It is best to begin your reading with our first post in September 2015 and work toward our most current post.

If you are a Class of 2016 parent, please do not hesitate to contact any committee member with questions.  You can also email the committee directly at: SHSclassof2016gradparty@gmail.com