Stelly’s Secondary School has joined Parkland Secondary School under the Peninsula Dry Grad Society (PDGS) umbrella.
The PDGS was formed by a group of Parkland parents in the fall of 2010 after insurance rates for renting a venue to hold the dry grad events was becoming an issue.
“Most venues want an insurance rider of $2 million to $5 million which meant a parent had to take this responsibility on their own insurance,” explained Eleanor Jones, one of the society’s members.
“Because of the success of the all night dry grad events there were parents who didn’t want to see the events disappear just because of insurance. After looking into it, a group of parents found that the society could take insurance which would not only be for the one evening but for all events sponsored by the PDGS happening throughout the year.”
Jones added that the name, Peninsula Dry Grad Society, was picked with the thought that at some point either Stelly’s, Claremont or perhaps both would also want to join. And join they did.
After a few meetings between organizers from both Parkland and Stelly’s it was determined it would be beneficial for Stelly’s to come under the PDGS banner for the 2013 grad year. From now on, the PDGS will become a consistent factor from year to year in helping run separate events for both Parkland and Stelly’s.
“We initially looked at joining with the society due to insurance purposes but the society has much more to offer,” said co-chair of the Stelly’s grad events, Darcy Winkel.
“This year Leah Shiner [the other co-chair] and I have been blessed with having the ability to stand on those shoulders who have gone before us and they have been a constant source of information and guidance.”
Winkel added that the society is looking to take on the role of being the information source in terms of who to contact for things like entertainment, event security, insurance rates and transportation.
There are nine board members on the PDGS. Currently there are two Parkland grad parents and seven community members. Of the seven community members, four have no children left in the school system, one has a child in Stelly’s (not in Grade 12) and two have children in Parkland (not in Grade 12).
At the PDGS annual general meeting scheduled for October of this year, the society will be looking to add at least two parents from both Stelly’s and Parkland, Jones said, with the remainder of the board being either parents or community members.
A commitment to the board is at least two years. There is no need to have a child in the school system to be on the board and any community minded volunteers are welcome.
For further information on the PDGS, contact Eleanor Jones at eleanorjones@shaw.ca.
Did you know?
This year, Parkland Secondary School made the decision to bring their grad dinner and dance and after grad festivities back to the Saanich Peninsula.
The event, which has traditionally been held at UVic (where the actual graduation ceremony is held) will take place this year at the Mary Winspear Centre. Students will be bused out to Sidney after their ceremony at UVic where they will then enjoy a full evening of fun and games from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. Organizers say they are thrilled to bring their event back to the community that supports them year round.