Graduation night can be exciting for seniors, but the night after graduation is one of the most dangerous events for seniors. According to Chippewa Coalition for Youth and Families, around 1,000 students under 21 die celebrating high school events such as prom and graduation due to underage drinking.
In the 1980s, Waterford High School started to implement the program Safe Grad in order to prevent such tragedies. Safe Grad is a non-profit organization (not affiliated with the Waterford Public School System) that provides a safe and substance-free celebration the night of graduation
Safe Grad plans the destinations, spaces used, and all activities while Waterford High School grants requests from the committee to meet in the library once a month, including Safe Grad information in the weekly email blast from Principal Samuelson, and having students meet in the Old Gym after the graduation ceremony. Although two separate organizations, they collaborate to make a memorable graduation night.
Safe Grad is made up of volunteer parents who plan the event from July the year before until graduation night. The parents work together to plan what they want the event to look like. Heidi Pafias, this year’s Safe Grad’s Co-Chair, says that the small group of parents in the committee are “sworn to secrecy and the location is meant to remain top secret until the graduates arrive at their destination.” The location and sequence of events changes every year, making it so students are completely surprised when they are brought to the meeting place on graduation night.
They also solicit businesses and ask the community for donations through fundraisers. Waterford High School’s homepage says that the amount of money needed to be raised each year for the Safe Grad event is around $20,000. If this amount of money is not made by May of senior year, then each student who attends will have to pay a per student ticket price to make up the difference.
Information for seniors:
The event typically starts around 7:30 PM after the graduation ceremony is over. Students who are attending will head into the Old Gym. Around 8:00 PM, all attendees will go through a check-in before they start leaving around 8:00 PM. At this check-in, students should already be changed and have what they need for the night. Any unnecessary items should be left with a parent/guardian before heading to the Old Gym. There will be no attendees allowed after 8:30 PM. Furthermore, there will be NO alcohol, drugs, or tobacco usage.
To confirm that students are or are not attending, the students’ parent or guardian must respond accordingly in order for their student to attend Safe Grad. Even if students are not attending, their parents must answer the form sent to their email saying that they are not attending. Students will not be allowed to attend if they have not provided contact information for their parents, no matter if they are older than 18.
At the event, Waterford PD and their K9 unit will be meeting the students and their chaperones before they get on the bus. They will check the students’ bags and make sure that there are no prohibited items among students’ belongings. Pafias specifies that “if a student requires prescription medication, be sure to bring it in its original properly-labeled pharmacy packaging.” However, the chaperones will have Tylenol and Advil for students if they need.
The Safe Grad committee recommends that students wear and/or bring comfortable clothes such as sweatshirts, sweatpants, and socks. There will be food and activities provided.
Once students have boarded the bus and arrive at the undisclosed location, they are not allowed to leave until they board the bus at 4:15 AM the next morning. Upon arriving at the school, students must have someone to pick them up at around 5:30 AM; students will not be allowed to leave without a parent/guardian to pick them up.
In the past, they have done activities such as “paintball, a dance party, a variety show, a street carnival, bowling, swimming, etc.” all depending on the location. This year’s committee worked hard in order to create a “high-energy and unforgettable” experience for all the seniors in the 2026 class. Have fun and stay safe, Class of 2026!
