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Grad Party 2002: Not sleepless in Tempe

By Tara Drach

Mothers and dads typically agonize over the safety of their teenagers on graduation night. It‘s a worry that all parents seem to share. Now, thanks to the Parent-Teacher Organization at Corona del Sol High School, Grad Night doesn’t mean a sleepless night for stay-at-home moms and pops.

The same can’t be said for the grads.

This year, the traditional all-night program will start at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 and end at 5 a.m. the next day.

And, just in case you think a school-sponsored event might be dullsville, this one has party written all over it.

Ensuring that the teens won’t be tempted to fall asleep somewhere during the wee hours, the night’s program includes an ongoing smorgasbord of activities, among them a black jack casino, bingo, a hypnotist show, a live D.J., dancing, karaoke, a climbing wall, bungee trampolines, volleyball, raffle prizes, refreshments and, of course, Kiwanis Center’s famed wave pool.

And, to guard against problems that might spoil the evening’s frivolity, the party will be drug- and alcohol-free. There also will be a screening for weapons.

The Grad Night program started 12 years ago when Tempe Community Council, on behalf of the city of Tempe, wanted to help PTO groups organize a safe celebration for graduates.

“Before that parents were working too hard to organize these events,” said Kate Hanley, executive director of TCC.

“Since TCC got involved, we get these dedicated parent groups from the different schools in Tempe together so they can share entertainment and expenses.”

There have been no alcohol-related traffic deaths of graduating seniors since the program began.

“The grads deserve to celebrate,” said Hanley. “But the kids need to be safe and not put the community at risk. Also, no one in the community wants to wake up to discover that a teenager has died on their graduation night.”

Since the event is not sponsored by the schools (once students have graduated the school does not have legal responsibility for them), TCC solicits contributions from local organizations and businesses, including city of Tempe, Tempe Police Department, Tempe Diablos Charities, Chuck’s Cafe, The Longfellow Practice and State Farm Insurance Companies.

However, it’s the parents that make the event possible.

“There are groups of parents, year after year, that work very hard all year and then stay up all night so they know that the students will attend a wonderful celebration in a safe environment,” said Hanley.

However, no matter how dedicated, there are never enough parent volunteers to run the events.

“We have between 300 and 400 Corona kids that attend Grad Night,” said Patty Dorsey, co-president of the Corona PTO and co-chair of Grad Night.

“We can’t have too many parent volunteers. It’s worth giving up a night of sleep to know your child is safe.”

In order to increase the attendance of graduates at the event, Tempe Police Chief Ralph Tranter pays a pre-Grad Night visit to the high schools with a car on a flat bed truck that was involved in an alcohol-related fatality involving a teenager. He also shares the history of the accident with the students.

“The goal of Grad Night is to have kids celebrate and have a good time in a safe environment,” says Hanley. So far, she says crossing her fingers, it’s worked. 

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