School-Sanctioned Event A Big Success

The problem of overnight car accidents on the nights of high school graduations apparently has been solved.

The senior all-night party was planned by the parents of the Coeur d’Alene High School graduating class of 2000. It lasted from directly after graduation until 5 a.m. Nearly the entire class attended the party, which was considered by both the parents and students to be a huge success.

“We, as parents, wanted to provide an evening for the graduates to celebrate both alcohol- and drug-free,” said Kathy Stranger, coordinator of the function.

Statistically, Stranger explained, the night of graduation is one of the most dangerous for teenagers. The celebrating that usually occurs often involves alcohol and/or drugs, and may conclude in injuries or even automobile fatalities.

As a result, it has been a nationwide trend for parents to provide an alternate, school-sanctioned party that all graduating seniors are invited to attend.

Students were accepted inside until the cut-off time, 11 p.m. Anyone who left the party earlier than 2:30 a.m. had their parents notified.

Graduates were enticed to participate through the prizes and games offered at the party. One of the guarantees was that anyone who attended would come home with something. The parents even allowed students to know some of the larger prizes that were available, such as a trip to Disneyland and a new computer.

“It was really successful,” said Peggy Fairfield, also a coordinator of the party. “Out of 259 graduating seniors, 230 attended.”

As the students entered the party, which was held at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, they each were issued numbers and given disposable cameras, which they could use to capture memories from the night. Their numbers were the same numbers that had been entered in the numerous drawings at the event.

The students also were given $55,000 - in fake “Viking money,” which they could use throughout the night for various events. To many students, the money was used to make more money in the gambling room, where students played blackjack and craps at genuine tables.

Any money earned allowed for the purchase of more prizes at the general store. More money could be earned at the “game show” that took place nearly every 10 minutes.

Cash prizes and certificates were awarded for various events, including trivia questions and musical chairs, by a DJ who stayed all night. The DJ was a follow-up to a live band that played for the first two hours of the party.

And for those who were not content with gambling or dancing, several games were available in the back room, such as a bungee run and and sumo wrestling.

In all, the event took nearly $18,000 to put together. Parents raised the money in various locations. Each student who attended had to buy a $40 ticket. There also were many donations from local businesses and parents. Godfather’s Pizza and Subway provided food for the students. Pepsi provided all of the drinks at the party. The bulk of the money came from local businesses.

Stranger was pleased with the result, which was a fun night for both kids and parents. “It was great for the parents,” she explained, because the parents of the graduates got to know each other better in finding prizes and planning the event, and during the night itself.

“I had no idea what to expect, and it was great,” said Fairfield. “This way, not only do you get to visit with everybody, but you can do it in a safe environment.”

Some of the major raffles that were drawn, primarily at the end of the night, were tickets to a concert by the Dave Matthews Band, a mountain bike, a computer with printer, rafting trips, televisions, and fishing gear.

“The only way it could happen was through the support of the parents,” Fairfield said.