Offering students a safe place on graduation night

FALLS VILLAGE — The Northwest Corner Prevention Network presented Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) Principal Matt Harnett with a check for $3,000 Tuesday, Jan. 8, for the school’s Project Graduation initiative.Project Graduation offers HVRHS seniors a safe alternative to post-graduation parties. The night of graduation, participating seniors will spend the night at the school, with adults in attendance.There will be a wide range of activities, including live music; a quiet room; movies; raffles; games; and a breakfast the next morning.Harnett said graduation will be a little earlier this year, to allow the graduates and their families time to celebrate. The seniors will check in at the school for the night at 9 p.m.There are 97 seniors in the Class of 2013.Harnett and Assistant Principal Ian Strever will be on hand the entire night. Faculty members have volunteered, as have parents and other members of the community.The $3,000 grant is from the Foundation for Community Health; Allison Fulton of the Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse wrote the grant for the Prevention Network.Harnett is soliciting donations, hoping to come up with a matching $3,000.Lesly Ferris of the Prevention Network said the idea has been tried elsewhere, with success.The Prevention Network was created after the Developmental Asset Survey taken by the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau in 2008 (and again in 2011).The survey, of students in grades seven, nine and 11, measured key factors in a young adult’s life that may positiviely or negatively influence their risk of drug and alcohol use, sexual activity, violence and poor academic performance.The Prevention Network, with members representing a cross-section of the Region One community, seeks to strengthen the key assets from the survey for area youth.Ferris said the group is now established, and recently held its second election of officers.The Prevention Network has sponsored the prescription drug take-back program for the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau and is in the process of setting up a website.