The dry grad committee at New Westminster Secondary School is hard at work on plans to provide a fun – and safe – celebration for the Class of 2022.
Building on the success of a bottle drive that was held in February, the dry grad committee is hosting another bottle drive on Saturday, June 4. Community members are invited to drop off their recyclable deposit beverage containers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the New Westminster Secondary School parking lot – in front of the main doors at 820 Sixth St.
“We raised $2,300 at the last bottle drive, which was so helpful in moving toward our fundraising goal,” said parent Jenn Vander Zalm in an email to the Record.
All proceeds will go toward the cost of putting on the NWSS dry grad party.
“The dry grad event is important to the NWSS school community as it provides a night of entertainment, food and memory-making for the NWSS class of 2022 in a safe and sober environment,” Vander Zalm said. “The dry grad committee fundraises all year to keep the cost of the tickets to $30, with subsidy for those students who cannot afford this so that the entire class can join in the fun.”
Vander Zalm noted that members of the 2022 grad class are already being asked to spend $130 per student for a prom ticket and $100 per student on convocation day fees, so the committee is working to keep the dry grad cost as close to free as possible.
“Dry grad started as an alternative to student parties after convocation, which sometimes led to tragedy,” she said. “Parents wanted to provide an inclusive, fun and safe celebration for their children.”
For anyone who wants to donate directly, the committee has also set up a Go Fund Me account that has set a goal of raising $7,000 (as of May 25, just over $500 had been donated.) You’ll find it at www.gofundme.com (search for NWSS – 2022 Dry Grad Celebration.
In the event that the committee raises funds exceeding the cost of the 2022 dry grad, any remaining money in the account will go toward the 2023 dry grad event for.
