Senior celebration committee begins making party plans

With roughly three months left in the school year, parents of Mountain Home High School's graduating class outlined additional plans for this year's senior celebration.

Continuing a tradition hosted by the parents of each graduating class since 1984, the senior celebration offers what event organizers call an alcohol-free, drug-free, safe, sane and fun party the night of graduation.

Organizers are using feedback from surveys submitted by graduating seniors to determine where to hold the celebration as well as specific activities planned throughout the night.

According to Shannon Reed, who helped organize last year's event, parents typically need to raise about $20,000 a year through various fund raisers to offset the costs of scheduled activities, food and other expenses during the May 24 celebration.

In 2012, approximately 130 students representing last year's graduating class attended the senior celebration. Many of them brought up to two guests to the party.

The committee's first major money-raising effort happens in March during this year's "Carnage on the Courts" competition. The friendly rivalry between the high school basketball and wrestling teams will take place in the high school gym.

In addition to helping raise hundreds of dollars each year for the Senior Celebration effort, the battles help secure bragging rights for the wizards of the hardwood or the masters of the mat.

Other upcoming fundraisers include a dinner theater tentatively planned for March 14. The event would coincide with the Encore Company's presentation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on opening night.

Meanwhile, the celebration committee is hosting a series of raffles, including two featuring a rifle and hunting bow. The organization will also host a series of gift basket raffles featuring gifts donated by parents and local businesses.

Activities starting to take shape in May include a car wash at Snappy Hot Wash on American Legion Boulevard. In addition, the committee plans to host a dinner and dessert event as part of this year's high school jazz band concert.

Senior celebration organizers continue to invite parents and others in the community to join their planning committee. The group's next meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the high school library.

For more information on other meeting times and locations, call the high school at 587-2570 or contact the group via e-mail at mhhs2013srcelebration@gmail.com.