50th Project Graduation Another 'Awe Inspiring' Party, Cochair Says

An overnight party requires about one year of planning.

"It's staggering the dedication and hours that go into basically a six-hour party. But we have remarkably talented people, and it works," said Project Graduation cochair Missy McLaughlin. "It's like 'Planning D-Day.'"

With cochair Debbie Castello, McLaughlin has organized, delegated and plotted the two-part, post-graduation bash for Ridgewood High School seniors. Around 40 parent volunteers and 36 committees organize the safe event for about 99 percent of the senior class, they say. 

In its 50th year, Ridgewood's Project Graduation exists to "keep kids safe and have a substance-free" party. If the past is any indicator, what a party it will be.

After the graduation concludes, kids board buses and leave Ridgewood at 8:30 p.m.

The graduates will be transported—still wearing their white graduation attire—to a hidden restaurant for a dinner dance. The formal hangout, planned by McLaughlin, gives way to the themed event back at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, starting at 11:30 p.m.

Skilled parents have worked at Brogan Cadillac in recent months to construct the massive flats that transform the middle school. In 2008, parents created an Olympic-inspired theme to go along with the Beijing games. McLaughlin called it "awe inspiring... show-stopping."

Not to be outdone, last year parents put on a button on the "Dark Knight" Batman theme with a replica Batmobile.

The theme for this year—still kept under wraps by the committee—should live up to its predecessors.

"You will not believe what the parent volunteers have done," she said.

Castello headed up the night's theme-party portion, which parents started work on in March. Earlier this week, parents moved materials to the middle school (The preparation caused the Planning Board to shift its late-scheduled Valley Hospital meeting to George Washington Middle School).

"There is great excitement, at first, as [the students] finally learn the theme of the party, which is kept secret from them all year. The evening is packed with entertainment, including the popular 'Baby Picture Hallway' with photos of each of the over 400 graduates. The night ends with a premier hypnotist show, before they head home thanking the parents on their way out," Castello said.

Parents' time and energy coupled with local sponsors support make the event possible.

"The entire effort could never get off the ground if Ridgewood businesses did not generously support this cause year after year," Castello said.

Over 1,000 people generally visit the display inside and outside the middle school before the students return. Visiting hours start at 5 p.m. and continue through 11 p.m. 

Was all the "scrambling" worth it?

"It's a really cool thing, and I think the kids look forward to it," McLaughlin said.

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