• Historic/romantic "old moves/retro"
• Millennium - "save the best 4 last"
• Above the clouds/a walk in the clouds
• Midnight dream, "stars", a midsummer nite's dream
• Don't have wine glasses/beer glasses as party favours – people will want to go out and use them

• Have designated door people
• If you leave – you can't come back in
• Don't use students as security or door people – if you're not at the door then you're not in an awkward position to have to tell people you know that they can't come in
• To get a ticket, everyone must sign a contract – include person to call in case of intoxication upon arrival
• Have the student pledges include drugs and alcohol
• Have a fund for emergencies kept at the door – you can use the money to send people home in cabs etc. if you need to
• Grads sign a pledge stating they are aware of the zero tolerance policy
• Contracts - two copies

The longer you can keep people at the event, the less time they have to "booze it up"

• Give out prizes and awards (e.g. prom king/queen, most likely to…..) at the end of the night – it gives people a reason to stay
• All request DJ – people might stay around to hear the songs they requested
• Have the DJ promote the "last song" – make it one that means something/has a theme for everyone
• Have a video of the grads and high school memories and play it at the end of the night
• Have pictures taken later – at the end
• Have a casino on the side while dancing is going on
• Save gifts til end
• Have a raffle at the end of the night

• Control admission to after grad
• Get buses to take people to the after grad
• Sell tickets/wristbands to post parties and only people who bought tickets can get in
• Have a ticket taker at the door
• Get parents to supervise
• MINI CONTRACT – same ideas as the pledges signed for the prom
• Get security
• Have people spend the night (no one drive home until the next day)
• Back packs not allowed or have them checked/inspected
• Area for back packs in the bus
• Nothing consumed on the bus - no food or drink
• Liability – know what you're responsible for (property damage, fire, drowning)
• Check with your parents about what your house insurance covers, with regard to liability
• Have a meeting with the parents of graduating students to help plan events

• You are more likely to be assaulted or injured if you attend a party in an isolated area, ex: fights, falls, burns, sexual assaults, car crashes
• You are at higher risk if you are with people you hardly know in the middle of the night, with no reliable transportation...THINK ABOUT IT !

BUT if you DO find yourself at a 'Bush Party', here are some survival tips:

• Be with a friend you trust at ALL times
• Always carry I.D. and a health card
• Bring a flashlight, cell-phone & a whistle
• Make sure someone knows where you are

• Assemblies - MISSING YOU videos
• "mock TV shows" on the side
• Have the police talk to the school
• Assembly against D & D/safe grad - IMPACT speaker
• Educate students about date rape drugs in written bulletins/announcements, print facts about sexual assault to raise awareness . . .
• Have speakers in who have been through it - use a combination of drinking and driving victims/offender, and assault speakers and events

• Cookie sales
• Ice cream days
• Helper sales
• Food stands - burger . . .
• Youth dance
• Movie night
• McDonalds, Burger King

This is a big memory moment in your life and you want it to be special …forever, captured as "one great party - the best". It's gonna take some work. But it is worth it!

• People come late and leave early so they can get to the after grad drunk and it ruins the night for everyone else.
• Students complain that there is nothing happening at the grad
• Students are uncomfortable before the dinner, during the dinner, and during the dance

HOW?

1. Sell the Sizzle Beforehand!

If people come expecting something good to happen, it is much easier than having to prove to them all night that they are having a good time.

Generate excitement and find ways to get a number of people involved in that process. Release bits of information along the way.

2. Do the Unexpected - Surprise Them!

The first 20-30 minutes can make or break an evening - other than guys saying "hey" and girls saying "ooooh, I like your dress (hair, shoes, etc.)", what else is there for them to do?

3. Keep It Happening!

4. Let People Know They Are Special

5. Create the Mood!

6. Get Help and Relax!

Good hosts and hostesses shouldn't be running around like chickens with their heads cut off the day of the party. Ask parents, teachers, or non-graduating students for help with cleanup, and with awards presentations. This requires planning ahead and knowing what help you'll need so you can enjoy the evening too. It also requires you to write some thank you notes after the event - but it's worth it.

7. Decorations

These don't have to be expensive but do make the evening special. You have to plan and budget for these.

8. Plan for the Safety of Your Friends

Use your imagination and have fun with it.

GOOD LUCK …WE HOPE THESE IDEAS HELP MAKE THIS EVENING ONE TO REMEMBER FOR A LIFETIME!

• Book your preferred banquet site!
• Interview venue host to inquire about safeguarding guests
• Inspect the site for safe lighting, washroom facilities, ventilation, running water, no balconies
• Do not exceed recommended room capacity
• Determine cost of the site and services including tax, "extras"
• Rent places that only have one client (e.g. no other schools sharing the same place)

• Make plans now with retailers for fashion show as a fundraiser and to highlight Safegrad

• DJ, Catering, Photographer
• Security, Decorations, Florist
• Limos
• Other

• Design with "Call Me" contract on back
• Arrange printing
  

• Start a prom or party bulletin board
• Survey students about their "dream grad". Include questions on safety concerns.
• Hang posters and make announcements promoting responsible behaviour (e.g. No drinking and Driving)
• Post a set of party-rules for "before the party" and "at the party"
• Arrange for videos and/or speakers for assemblies
• Plan a fashion show
• Last chance to book services
• Finalize prom ticket price and print
• Sign/finalize contracts with all services

• Hold an assembly informing students about the details of their big night
• Contact your health unit for audio-visual resources for assemblies and morning announcements
• Host alcohol and drug awareness event in cooperation with OSAID, Student Council, MADD, and your local health unit
• Organize floor show, activities (e.g. fun awards for "Most likely to be millionaire"), slide shows, and entertainment (goggles, mocktails)
• Hold lunch time seminars or workshops on assertiveness, self defense
• Hold special assemblies (motivational speakers, educational theatre)

• Party with a friend you know and trust
• Benefits of an alcohol/drug – free event
• Dangers of impairment including drinking and driving, drinking games, alcohol poisoning, sexual assault, mixing alcohol and drugs, liability

• Sell and distribute grad tickets
• Assign tasks to grad night volunteers and make sure everyone knows their job
• Send letters to students and parents re: consequences if students are intoxicated
• Hand out flyers about safe-partying
• Have students sign a "responsible behavior pledge" (see safegrad.com) when they purchase their tickets

• Promote the rule: All guests must have tickets and be signed in
• Hire security guards, police and/or bouncers
• Invite adults you trust to your party to help you deal with problems
• Do not combine alcohol and potentially dangerous activities such as boating, driving, bike-riding, swimming, etc.
• Do not allow "in" and "out" privileges
• Pre-arrange transportation for guests (e.g. hire a bus for the evening, or hire limos and cabs)

• Allow invited guests only
• Patrol washrooms / outside areas
• Have cell phones for student and staff organizers
• Have chaperones / security / police at party
• Ensure first aid kits are on hand
• Have lots of non-alcoholic drinks, water and non-salty foods
• Never leave drinks unattended and don’t accept open drinks

• Do not serve alcohol to anyone under 19 years old
• Use plastic or paper cups and plates (non-breakables)
• Hire a bar tender with Smart Serve training to prevent drinking problems
• Don’t drink too much yourself, especially if you are the host
• Let people sleep over if they are drunk. Keep checking them until they are sober
• Serve juices and non-alcoholic drinks at least two hours before the party ends
• Don’t have a "last call"
• Confine the party to a certain area of the house. Lock bedroom doors. Remove valuables and private liquor stock
• Make sure no one drives while impaired
• Ask guests to hand in their keys when they enter the party
• Hand out "call me" cards, phone numbers for cab companies or alternative ride services
• Know the signs of someone who is impaired and needs medical attention
• Have someone available who is trained in CPR and first aid

• Know your guests and know who to contact in case of an emergency
• If someone comes to your party impaired, don’t let them in. Offer safe transportation home or call the police
• Stop the party and call the police if things get out of control
• Make sure guests are sober before leaving the party
• Call 911 if someone is throwing up or passing out after drinking too much alcohol too fast. Chugging can kill. Put the person in a side-lying recovery position and stay with them until Emergency Medical Services arrives.