Dry Grad Chair 2018-19
Kerri Winter
Phone: 604-230-9040
email: kwinter02@gmail.com
Treasurer 2018-19
Leah Quesnelle
Phone: 604-836-8642
email: leah@jqmechanical.com
Next Meeting: October 22nd @ 7pm in Library Learning Commons
Dry Grad is a parent planned event that takes place immediately following prom. The intention is to give the kids a safe place to continue the celebration in a fun environment and be all together one last time. Following Prom, those who have purchased tickets for Dry Grad are bussed from the Prom venue at Newlands to the Dry Grad Venue. The school is not responsible for Dry Grad in any way, however, they do assist with communication to Gr 12 parents about Dry Grad and coordinating the transition from prom to the dry grad venue.
A Dry Grad Committee is formed of parent volunteers. A chair is selected to help plan the meetings, and various sub committees are formed to help delegate the work and plan and help with such things as communication, booking the venue, organizing food, entertainment, plan a fundraiser, design and order tickets and printing, decorating etc. The Committee usually meets once a month in the Library for about 1 – 1 ½ hrs.
The Committee seeks input from the students and selects a venue, entertainment and food. Funding comes from donations, fundraisers and ticket sales. Budgets for the event can range from $12,000 and up. Fundraising is optional. A balance is always left by the prior year grad class (approx. $4k) which gives this year’s event funds to put a deposit on a venue. Securing a venue early is important as they tend to book up.
The last few years Dry Grad events have been held at the Fort in Fort Langley, George Preston (curling rink and lounge/bar areas), The Metro in New Westminster, Castle Fun Park and the Great Escape. Other schools have done Dry Grad events such as river rafting – there are lots of various options.
There are many ways to help support Dry Grad – volunteering the night of the event, help with a fundraiser, be part of the committee or a subcommittee, sell tickets – there are lots of big and little jobs and many hands make light work with opportunities to just help once for an hour, or more. I encourage you to add your email address to the Dry Grad Committee email list and just be kept in the loop of the planning process. You can choose to attend a meeting or help out when and where you can.
There is a Dry Grad page on the school website where updates and contact info will be posted.
To get the Dry Grad Committee kick started a meeting has been set for Monday Oct 1st in the Library Learning Commons at 7 pm. Grab a friend and come learn more and be part of this year’s Dry Grad celebration.