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Editorial
Published: Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Saratogian
Prom time. Boys decked out in ties and tuxes. Girls looking
lovely (and adult) in slinky gowns.
A night to remember.
For happy things, I hope.
Those of us old enough to not feel invulnerable can come up with
any number of prom-night dangers. Think of the potential
ingredients at proms everywhere: Sex. Drugs. Booze. Cars. Girls
in the aforementioned slinky gowns. A promise of a "memorable
night."
All we want is for the kids to have a good time and come home,
at whatever time they’ve negotiated with parents, safe and
sound.
So it was good to learn that the Saratoga Springs High School
Parent-Teacher-Student Organization will be hosting the eighth
annual Post Prom Party from midnight to 3 a.m. May 16, following
the May 15 junior-senior prom. Other schools are offering
similar options.
I’m not naive. Some kids will turn their noses up at something
organized by adults.
But I think it’s a great idea to offer, as the release states,
"a fun and safe alternative to other post-prom activities" for
students and their dates.
I encourage individuals and businesses to take the PTSO up on
its request for donations, 100 percent of which goes toward the
event.
Here’s the rest of the info straight from the release:
Monetary donations can be made to: SSHS PTSO, 1 Blue Streak
Blvd., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866. Donated items, such as door
prizes and food, are also welcome, and arrangements can be made
for pick-up.
Eligible students can attend even if they don’t go to the prom.
Advance tickets will be available for $5 each when prom tickets
go on sale or at the door for $7. Raffle prizes include tickets
to the Great Escape, movie tickets, ipods, a digital camera,
mini recorders, gas gift certificates, video game systems and
more. The goal is for each student to go home with a prize.
For more information, contact
Bonnie Nicolosi at
587-4272.
Parents can’t protect their kids from every risk. But offering
options is a smart idea. Also smart is for parents to set ground
rules for such things as curfews and to make expected behaviors
(and consequences) clear — though you can’t start parenting two
weeks before the prom.
Need advice along those lines? I’ve always found the nonprofit
Prevention Council a great resource for the community.
Judy Ekman has done so much over the last two decades to
establish the Prevention Council and its offshoot, the Saratoga
Partnership for Prevention, as the place to turn for education,
information and hands-on programs to promote a community safe
from substance abuse and other dangers.
Newly retired, Ekman will no doubt remain a resource.
I am pleased to congratulate Heather Kisselback as the newly
appointed executive director. By all accounts, Kisselback has,
as Prevention Council Board President Michael Smith told The
Saratogian, the "background, knowledge and energy" for the job.
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