Event aims to keep seniors safe
The Woodlands High School Parent Teacher Organization is hosting its Graduation Highlander, a senior lock-in event, after the May 31 graduation ceremony so that teenagers can have a drug- and alcohol-free night to party with their peers under adult supervision.
Seniors at The Woodlands High School are counting down the days until they walk across the stage and accept their ticket into adulthood.
While students look forward to that bittersweet moment — and the celebration that comes with it — parents and educators are working to ensure that their last day as high schoolers will be the beginning of a full and successful life.
The Woodlands High School Parent Teacher Organization is hosting its Graduation Highlander, a senior lock-in event, after the May 31 graduation ceremony so that teenagers can have a drug- and alcohol-free night to party with their peers under adult supervision.
One-third of more than 5,000 teenage car fatalities were due to drunken driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“The whole point of it is prom and graduation tend to be the deadliest nights for teens to be out on the road. Whether it’s them or someone else partying, we’d rather them be safe and having fun, so were going to keep an eye on them,” said Susan Cos-culluela, president of The Woodlands High School PTO.
Graduation Highlander, formerly known as Operation Graduation, has been a tradition for 29 years at The Woodlands High School.
Seniors spend one last night with their entire graduating class from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. at Main Event for the price of an admission ticket. The cost is $45.
Though other graduation parties may exist outside of senior lock-in, attendance has consistently been high. About 75 percent to 80 percent of The Woodlands High School graduating class attends the lock-in each year.
“We’re trying to provide an alternative to having to find your own party. We’re creating a party for you so you can have fun with your classmates one last time,” said Greg Colschen, principal of The Woodlands High School.
The lock-in at Main Event will include food, bowling, billiards, laser tag, a casino, Mr. Jeopardy, raffle tickets and hourly prizes, henna tattoos, arcade games and a money machine. The kids get to keep the money.
Tickets are $50 at the door for those who didn’t purchase admission in advance. There are no additional costs as everything, including the casino and food, is included in admission.
Parents, teachers and administrators volunteer their time to chaperone kids the entire night. Those interested in volunteering can contact the PTO.
The PTO spends about $65,000 a year to give graduating seniors a safe alternative to other parties that may include under-age drinking or drugs. Tickets cover a majority of the cost, but the high school PTO raises between $15,000 and $20,000 from fundraising and donations.
The PTO is raising funds via advertising revenue for brochures it plans to print and distribute during the May 31 graduation at the Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion.
The Woodlands College Park High School has a similar event called GradNight, which is also hosted by its campus PTO. GradNight costs $60 and will be held on June 3 at Main Event.