Celebrating the ‘great finale’

NKEC preparing for Safe Grad memories that will last a lifetime

Jennifer Osmond has fond memories of her Safe Grad experience as a graduating senior at Kings County Academy.

“It’s potentially the last time that all of us who went through high school together will have a chance to actually be together,” she says. “It was a great finale for your high school years.”

Osmond now teaches biology and environmental sciences to Grade 11 and 12 students at Northeast Kings Education Centre. She got involved in Safe Grad programs shortly after coming on staff at NKEC about 18 years ago.

“One of my former high school teachers was involved in Safe Grad, so I just started helping out and it went from there,” she recalls.

While the legal drinking age in Nova Scotia is 19, it’s an accepted reality that many young people do not wait until their 19th birthday to have their first sip of alcohol. A Safe Grad party has the graduates in a controlled and safe environment on one of the biggest nights of the school year.

Along with a team of dedicated parents, the Safe Grad program at NKEC is now operated by Osmond and math teacher Jacqueline Faber.

Early in the school year an email goes out to parents, looking for volunteers to serve on the fundraising committee and then funds are raised throughout the year to provide money for Safe Grad prizes, food and activities.

“The parents lead the fundraising drive,” Osmond says. “We will typically have a meeting with the parents in late October or early November and then they take it from there.”

Anywhere from six to 10 fundraising events are held throughout a typical school year and a major event this year was a comedy show in March headlined by wellknown comedian Jay Malone.

Safe Grad will be held June 28 at NKEC. Laser tag, obstacle course, laser brush tattoos, a casino, and a mechanical bull will be just some of the activities.

A sketch artist will be drawing portraits that will become precious keepsakes for the graduates. Students accumulate tickets throughout the evening, which go into a draw for prizes. One of the more popular events, Osmond says, is the Zumba dance.

“We bring a Zumba instructor in and the students are all up and dancing.”

While some schools combine the two, Safe Grad is a separate event from prom night at NKEC.

“Every school has its own take on Safe Grad and how they want to do it,” Osmond adds. “We’ve always had our Safe Grad after the graduation ceremonies.”

During COVID the convocation ceremony at NKEC was moved to an outdoor, daytime event and that format will continue, Osmond adds. Graduates have their own appointed time to receive their diploma.

“It is spread out throughout the day, so every graduate gets highlighted for their achievements,” Osmond says. “This way we get to celebrate each student individually.”

The Safe Grad activities begin after the valedictorian’s speech, and wrap up at 11:30 p.m.

“Many of our students have graduated licenses, so this allows them to get home by midnight.”