Watchung Hills Project Graduation Gets Financial Boost, Change of Venue

The Watchung Hills Board of Education's annual contribution to Project Graduation, a yearlong series of activities for graduating seniors culminating in a special event the night of graduation, is due to be boosted to $17,500 this year, from $10,000 for last year.

The money would come from an account that takes in campus parking fees from students, according to the discussion at Monday night's school board meeting. However, board members settled on taking a final vote on making the contribution after having an attorney draw up the paperwork.

In an effort to increase participation in the final event in Project Graduation, the final event after graduation on June 23 is being moved to Dave & Busters Restaurant and Arcade in West Nyack, N.Y., said school officials and Helene Cole, this year's Project Graduation chairperson. 

Cole said that the goal of this year's Project Graduation is to increase participation by the Class of 2014 from 50 percent in previous year, to 75 percent or higher.

"We are encouraging 100 percent participation as it will be the last time the graduates of 2014 will be together as a class and we want to ensure they have a safe environment in which to celebrate!" says a letter to parents of this year's seniors on the Watchung Hills High School website.

On the night of graduation, Project Graduation will provide Coach busing to and from Dave & Busters, the website said. The seniors will arrive back at the high school at approximately 4 a.m., according to the plan.

Activities at Project Graduation will include an all night food buffet, ice cream buffet, breakfast, a D.J. with a separate room for dancing, Wii Games, arcade and sports games, massages, photo booths, billiard tables, casino room, tarot card readers, inflatable Twister and a phenomenal hypnotist show, the school website says.

The safe environment also will provide places for students just to sit and talk with their friends, Cole said after the board's discussion. 

The letter to parents on the website points out the enormous amount of volunteer hours that go into the planning and execution of these year-long activities and graduation night event. 

"It is an expensive proposition to make these events safe, exciting and memorable," the letter says, added that the projected cost per student for all these activities is $190. 

No direct charge to students

Parents are asked in the letter for a suggested donation is $100, "although any amount (more or less) would be greatly appreciated." 

The letter, which includes instructions on how to make a donation, said there is no direct charge to any individual student to attend Project Graduation, although "We do rely heavily on parent tax-deductible donations."

Cole said that other sources of funding also include a raffle, a community appeal and a special appeal to non-profit organizations.