PARIS – With the start of a new school year, it’s time again to think about graduation.

Members of the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Project Graduation committee are set to meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, in Room E-118 at the high school to begin formulating plans for the popular party held each year at the high school, but they need parents help.

For 28 years, the high school has held the party as a way to keep the kids off the streets and out of trouble when graduation ceremonies end at 9 p.m. Saturday. About 150 to 170 of the 275 or so seniors attended the party.

“We’re looking for parental help to be on our committee to help with ideas and fundraisers and the night of the party,” said Vice President Laurie Wiacek, who has been on the committee for the past six years even though she lives outside the school district and her daughter graduated from OHCHS several years ago.

Project Graduation, which is now a nationwide program, grew out of a series of tragic accidents about two decades ago when two years in a row, 18 students were killed, including in Oxford County, in drug- and alcohol-related accidents on graduation night. It was Oxford Hills High School that began the tradition to keep seniors in a chemical-free and fun graduation party, said Wiacek and Kathy Keane, the committee secretary. The state wrote the manual, which is used by schools across the country to promote Project Graduation.

“This is the first year we’re asking junior parents to get involved,” said Wiacek referring to parents of juniors whose child will benefit from the party when they graduate next year. A combination of wanting parents to know in advance what their child will attend the next year and the need for more involvement has prompted the committee to seek help from students’ parents and others.

The committee must raise between $14,000 and $16,000 and coordinate scores of organizations that will donate their time, money or products to the event to make it a success. Only $200 was left in last year’s coffers, Wiacek said.

Wiacek said the committee is looking for fundraising ideas and help to carry out fundraisers such as the traditional auction held each March.

The Project Graduation night starts out right after graduation ceremonies with a barbecue usually sponsored by the Kiwanis followed by activities such as a rope course that the Rotary Club sponsors, a casino sponsored by the Lions Club, all the food and drinks the students can consume, music and more activities and surprises. The grand finale of the night, which wraps up as the sun is coming up, is a raffle for cash and prizes.

The high school is transformed into whatever theme the senior class decides, said Keane and Wiacek. Last year, for example, the school looked like a tropical island.

The students also decide what food they want and what music gets played. “The kids get what the kids want, and we get the parents and the money,” Keene said.

The committee will meet every two weeks on Thursdays beginning at 6:30 p.m. in E-118 at the high school. For more information phone Kathy at 743-2616 or Lori at 381-0232.