Conard Safe Grad Party Provides All Night Entertainment

Staying up all night has been an expected part of graduation celebrations for decades, but in recent years parents and educators have banded together, with the support of local businesses, to create safe and substance free events for graduates.

At both and Hall in West Hartford, Safe Grad parties allow graduates to enjoy their milestone, with the hope of avoiding tragedy that has often marked graduation celebrations in the past. The parties typically include lavish decorations, highly-valued prizes, and entertainment options for all interests.

Conard's substance-free Safe Grad party began at 10 p.m. Wednesday, after graduates attended the commencement ceremony and had the opportunity to have dinner with their families. It ended at 5 a.m. Thursday, and was attended by nearly 100 percent of the class of 2012.

The theme of this year's celebration, a closely-guarded secret until the graduates entered the main doors of the school at 10 p.m., was "The Never-Ending Story," and included decorations from books likely enjoyed from the graduates' preschool, elementary school, and middle school days.

"Curious George," the "Cat in the Hat," and "Goodnight Moon," welcomed partygoers. Further down the foyer, the decorations turned to "The Chronicles of Narnia" and young adult favorites like "Hunger Games," the "Twilight" series, and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

Scenes from "Jungle Book" flanked the entrance to the cafeteria where grads could enjoy food and drink, arts and crafts and tattoos, cooler races, and dancing. The hallway to the gym was lined with yearbook photos of all the graduates, and the gym itself was filled with seven inflatables.

Cissy Graumann, Michele Confessore, and Jacqui Moffett chaired Conard's event this year, and Kate Bruttomesso and Mary Millican ran the decorating committee.

Confessore said that a core group of a dozen parents did much of the work, including creation of the elaborate panels in the foyer. The committee began meeting in October, and began crafting the decorations in the basement of St. Mark's Church in January.

"We had an amazing group of parents who came out of the woodwork to help with the move from St. Mark's to Conard last Saturday," Confessore said.

There is no cost for graduates to attend the Safe Grad party, with food and prizes donated by families or local businesses. Funds are also raised through flocking, sale of Pandora-type beads, lawn signs, and magnets.

Raffle prizes were elaborate, and included the grand prize 32" flat-screen TV as well as a Kindle Fire, DVD player, iPods, headphones, and a variety of gift cards.

The Safe Grad co-chairs are thankful to all who assisted in the success of this year's event, and said special thanks go to Pat Daly and Lois Benedetto for their fundraising work, Tracy Kradas for handling lawn signs, and Barbara Zukowski, who served as "mother flocker" this year.

Feel free to add additional photos from Conard's Safe Grad celebration, and check back tomorrow for a sneak peek at Hall's event.