Belmont secondary graduates are here for a good grad, and a Safegrad.
An initiative spearheaded by the school, alongside parent volunteers, promises a safer after-prom party for graduating Grade 12 students than the alternative, says principal Ray Miller.
B次元官网网址淲e are trying to curb behaviour and negative tradition by hosting this event,B次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淲e spend thousands of dollars keeping kids safe and not going out for what has sometimes been an unhealthy tradition at proms, going out drinking and carrying on and sometimes ending up in tragedy.B次元官网网址�
Miller says heB次元官网网址檚 proud that the student buy-in for the three-year-old program has climbed steadily, starting with approximately 150 students in 2012, to 230 in 2013, to more than 300 of 400 graduating students this year.
B次元官网网址淲e are happy to announce we have over 75 per cent staying for safe grad. This trend has gone up over time and we can only thank the community. It is the community who we lobby for resources so we can buy safe grad fun events at City Centre Park.B次元官网网址�
The regular school prom happens Friday (June 14) from 5 to 11:30 p.m. and includes a dinner and a dance.
Safegrad picks up from there, running through until 5 a.m. the next morning. Activities for this yearB次元官网网址檚 Hollywood-themed event include bowling at Langford Lanes, limo rides, DJ music, a casino, hamster balls to run in, laser tag, sumo wresting, mini golf, bingo and more.
B次元官网网址淭he West Shore and Belmont probably have the most (parent) volunteers putting on the prom event,B次元官网网址� Miller said. B次元官网网址淚t is an unbelievable spectacle. We transform City Centre Park B次元官网网址� You wouldnB次元官网网址檛 even recognize the place after (decorators) are finished with it.B次元官网网址�
Miller said a small army of donors and parent volunteers make the event happen, with more than 50 parents coming in to set up and decorate before the event starts, shifts of parents staying throughout the night to work the grad, and dozens more coming in to clean up after the party is over.
Donors also help pay for and provide door prizes for students who attend Safegrad, with the City of Langford alone pitching in more than $10,000 of the $50,000 to $60,000 tab for the event.
B次元官网网址淲e want to support the kids from our community and make sure they are safe when they have their grad events,B次元官网网址� said Langford Coun. Denise Blackwell.
B次元官网网址淲e have seen tragedy in other communities when kids go out and party on grad and or ruin their lives and we want to help with that. It is a long, hard haul to get through Grade 12 and I am proud of them all for getting through the year and getting through 12 years of school. I think this is an investment in our kidsB次元官网网址� future.B次元官网网址�
alim@vicnews.com
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