Latest Project Graduation newsletter!

RHS Project Graduation 2013

May 21 update … counting down to June 26!

PG-13 co-chairs

Maggie DeVita – tomdevita@aol.com or 201-445-3213

Catherine Gould – cagould859@verizon.net or 201-251-4311

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Details of senior parents meeting held on Monday:

Grade administrator Elizabeth O’Brien outlined the basics:

SENIOR PROM:

1. The prom will be held on Friday, June 7 at the Harborside in Jersey City. All details have been included in a letter she emailed to all parents earlier this month. If you did not receive the letter, contact her at eobrien@ridgewood.k12.nj.us

2. Students attending prom – and their guests – must each sign permission slips attached to the letter in order to attend the event; parent signatures are also required. Prom bids are $110 per guest, payable to RHS Association.

3. Students are not allowed to drive themselves to prom. Please alert all drivers taking students to the prom: Do NOT rely on Mapquest or Google maps! Follow the directions provided by Ms. O’Brien in her email sent on May 8.

4. Parents: Please keep your cell phones on until your student arrives home from the prom, in case RHS officials need to reach you.

5. Monday, June 10 is a regular school day. Any absence, excused or unexcused, counts torwar the total number allowed.

GRADUATION:

1. All details regarding graduation will soon be sent home, including fees for the girls’ roses and rental of dinner jackets for boys.
2. Most boys have already been measured for their dinner jackets and pants by Biltmore Tuxedos during PE classes. If your son says he has not yet been measured, visit Biltmore in downtown Ridgewood ASAP. Boys must provide their own shirts, shoes and belts.
3. Girls must wear a white dress: floor-length gown, tea length, knee length or pant suit are all acceptable, as long as they are white (off-white is OK.) Ms. O’Brien recommends girls wear flat or low-heeled (not pointed heels) shoes to make it easy to walk on the turf; flip-flops are dangerous if sidewalks are wet.
4. Every graduating senior will receive four tickets to graduation. If any students have outstanding debts to RHS (i.e. food service, overdue library books, etc.) they must be paid before the tickets will be issued. Visit Skyward to see if your student owes any money.
5. Two of the four tickets will be marked as “rain” tickets in the event that graduation must be held indoors because of inclement weather.
6. An iced tea reception will follow graduation on the front lawn, allowing parents and guests to greet the new graduates before they leave for the Post Graduation Dinner Dance (invitation to be sent soon!) Because of extraordinary fundraising efforts by parents this year, there will be no additional charge for seniors to attend the dinner dance – except for the $150 dues that must be paid for students to attend PG-13 post-graduation events. See special note below.

TOP PRIORITY: PG-13 Build!

Please come to the PG-13 construction facility located at 80 Commerce Drive, Allendale. Anyone can help, no talent required. There are jobs for all skill levels – even beginners - and the socializing is fun!

The schedule will be posted each week via email, on our Facebook page and on the blog, but the following hours are (pretty much) definite for the duration of PG-13 Build:

Monday: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 7 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Thursday: 7 to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Other sessions will be added to this and will change week to week.

All parents are welcome! We hope to see new faces! ALSO: If you want to gather a group of friends to help on a certain day or time, contact Catherine and she will arrange a special PG-13 Build meeting just for your group!

PG-13 Dues

Several dozen families of senior students have still not paid their $150 PG-13 dues! Every graduating senior who wishes to participate in the PG-13 festivities – the post-ceremony dinner and the all-night party at BF – must pay the $150 PG-13 dues. If you have not yet paid, please write a check payable to PG-13 and mail or drop off to Ines Bunza (PG-13 treasurer) at 335 Jeffer St. Questions? Call Ines at 201-445-2960 or email her: nezzie2@aol.com

Baby Photos

Absolute Last Chance: Deliver the photo to Debbie DeWitt at 116 Doremus Avenue, Ridgewood by Thursday, May 23. Please do NOT submit photos to Ines Bunza – she is collecting only dues! Also, if you do not pay the PG-13 dues, your child’s baby photo will not be enlarged and framed.

If you miss the deadline, parents will have to bring their child’s baby photo directly to Motophoto for enlargement, and then the framer:

• Motophoto is located at 61 E. Ridgewood Ave. in Paramus – ask for Sid and tell him you have a RHS baby photo. If you did not pay the PG-13 dues, you will have to pay for the enlargement. Motophoto’s phone is 201-265-8400.
• After you receive the enlargement, take it to New Jersey Frame and Moulding, 62 Kearney St. in Paterson. Ask for Craig and tell him you are an RHS parent. Phone is 973-684-6001. Pay him directly if PG-13 dues were not paid.

Unfortunately, if photos are not delivered to Debbie in time, there will not be a quote attached to late photos.

Do you have?

PG-13 Build is searching for donations of the following items:

1. Twin bed mattresses (for couches)

2. Clean glass and plastic containers, such as those used for olive oil and drinks.

3. You. Come on up and get your hands dirty - enthusiasm counts as a skill.

If you can help with any of this, please contact Matt Lanza – mtlanza@gmail.com or 201-835-9190.

Fundraising for PG-13

Notecards: We still have blank notes cards, invitations and announcements for sale. The cost is $15 for a packet of 10. Please contact MarySue at erin221@verizon.net if you are interested in purchasing these lovely cards. The careds will also be sold at PG 2013 meetings and senior class meetings. Many graduates use these blank cards as thank you notes!

Graduation portraits

Once again, Haviland Photography will be taking portraits of the graduates on the patio in front of RHS before the graduation ceremony. For the best appointment times, call NOW to schedule your appointment. All orders must be prepaid by June 21 to reserve your time.

Package prices (which include tax) are:

1. One 8x10, one 5x7, 4 wallets = $89 (minimum order).
2. One 8x10, two 5x7s, 8 wallets = $108.
3. Four 5x7s, 8 wallets = $129.
4. Two 8x10s, two 5x7s, 16 wallets = $148.
5. One 11x14, two 8x10s, two 5x7s, 16 wallets = $210.

Photos by Jeffrey Steccato, certified master photographer at Haviland Photography in Ho-Ho-Kus, which has been photographing RHS graduates since 1953. To make an appointment and for more information, call 201-445-4567. Emails will be sent for proof viewing.

Still needed:

Chairperson for the committee that organizes and supplies refreshments for parent volunteers during decorating nights and weekends.

Chaperones for the dinner dance following graduation on June 26.

Chaperones for PG-13 at BF. Shifts are 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.; 2 to 4 a.m.; and 4 to 6 a.m.

Contact pcreedon@optonline.net to volunteer! Thanks!

Water and Gatorade

In past years, parents of graduating seniors have donated bottled waters and bottled Gatorade for the overnight “lockdown” party at BF. We are going to do the same thing again this year. Please email Nanci Gregory at Pamperchef@aol.com to let her know if – and what – you would like to donate. The drop-off location is Nanci Gregory’s house at 29 N Irving St. All water/Gatorade donations must be received by Monday, June 24. Thank you!!

White Dress Closet

If you know any past RHS graduates who would be willing to donate their gently used white graduation gown or prom dress to the White Dress Closet, contact Rosie McCooe at rosie.mccooe@verizon.net or Vicky Herbert at vhwal@aol.com. The White Dress Closet helps graduating seniors who may not be able to afford a new dress. Also contact Vicky or Rosie if you know a senior girl who needs assistance in acquiring a dress. All communication will be confidential and discreet.

Mark your calendars!

Friday, June 7: RHS Prom at Harborside in Jersey City, 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

Wednesday, June 26: Graduation at 5 p.m., followed by the dinner dance for seniors at an undisclosed location, and PG-13 revealed at Ben Franklin Middle School!