KEEPING THE PARTIES SAFE: SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENTS OFFER 'PEACE OF MIND

Central High School senior John Taylor is looking forward to his graduation in two weeks. He has the cap, the gown and a passel of relatives coming to share one of the biggest events in his life.

He also has a ticket to what he expects will be the biggest -- and safest -- party in town: Project Graduation.

The local party, an all-night affair that begins at 10:30 p.m. on graduation night, is an outgrowth of a Mothers Against Drunk Driving program begun in the 1980s. The event gives seniors an alcohol- and drug-free place to gather after commencement.

"It's peace of mind to me, knowing they do this," said Taylor, one of roughly half of the 230 seniors at Central signed up to attend the event. "It's one last time to be with my friends before we go our separate ways."

Other schools have opted to skip graduation-night parties in favor of other events. Notre Dame students may attend an all-night party following prom.

Brother David Migliorino, principal at Notre Dame, said his school preferred the prom night party over graduation because there appears to be more risks to students then. But school-sponsored parties are valid whenever they are held because they protect students, he said.

"I fully support them because they let the kids bond, let the kids have a safe environment," said Migliorino.

And in Jackson, the high school sponsored a lock-in three weeks prior to graduation, as well as several other activities seniors could attend.

"Our senior steering committee wanted to give students a choice of what they wanted to do," said Jackson High School counselor Sarah Nussbaum. "It's an optional activity. We just want them to get the message they can have safe celebrations."

25-year tradition

Central High party chairwoman Nancy Stahr said parents of senior class officers have organized the local graduation party each year for nearly a quarter-century. The event, which will be at the Show Me Center at a cost of about $7,000, will be paid for using a combination of ticket money, private donations and fund raisers.

Parent volunteers chaperone the party. Because students are allowed to drive to the event -- there are about six hours between the end of graduation and the start of the party -- a police officer is on hand to make sure no one arrives drunk.

A $15 ticket guarantees students a commemorative T-shirt, unlimited food and games, and chances to win from a pool of door prizes big enough to ensure everyone goes home with a practical gift that would get good use either at college or in the working world.

"It's a great celebration for a lot of hard work," said Stahr. "We try to keep our expenses to a minimum because we know whatever money we don't spend on regular expenses goes back to students in the form of a prize."

Party costs have caused two high schools in Perry County to work together in providing safe parties for seniors. For the past 15 years, school officials at Perryville and St. Vincent's high schools have coordinated graduation events so that parents can organize a joint graduation night party.

Both Perry County graduations are held in the evening, and students with tickets are loaded onto buses and driven to the party site. Depending upon the expenses, students may get a partial or full refund on the $20 tickets they purchased for the event.

All but about 50 seniors from both schools -- a total of 180 students -- already have bought tickets for the event.

Project Graduation executive committee member Kathy Landholt, who has helped to plan the party before, said community businesses and representatives always provide the donations needed to cover expenses.

"For a town of our size, it really brings the kids together and kind of minimizes the rivalry," said Landholt. "Overall, if it's been going on this long, it's got to have some good purpose."

AREA GRADUATION DATES

Oran High School: 2 p.m. Sunday

Chaffee High School: 7 p.m. Sunday

Oak Ridge High School: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Sikeston High School: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Scott City High School: 7:30 p.m. May 25 at football stadium

Central High School: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at the Show Me Center

Project graduation begins at 10:30 p.m.

Tickets $18 for graduating Central High School seniors

Jackson High School: 7 p.m. May 27 at the football stadium

Rain site at the Show Me Center

Perryville High School: 8 p.m. May 25 at the football stadium

Rain site at Perry Park Center

St. Vincent High School (Perryville): 7:30 p.m. May 25

Shawnee Community High School: 2 p.m. June 3 at the school