Harrison Senior All Night Party Moves Off-Site

After Harrison High School seniors have celebrated their graduation at Compuware Arena in Plymouth Sunday, they won't be going back to the school for the annual Senior All Night Party. 

Sandra Rivett, who co-chairs this year's event with Wendy Scrimger, said students will be headed to the Franklin Athletic Club on Northwestern Highway in Southfield. 

"We met with last year's committee, and they were struggling with volunteers," Rivett said. "So we talked back in May (2012) about going off-site to alleviate that pressure."

While some parents expressed concerns, the majority were behind the move, she added. In-school party planning would mean being at the school starting on Friday of graduation weekend, and then making sure the building is back in order for Monday morning. It puts a lot of pressure on parents, many of whom have less time these days to volunteer, Rivett said

By going off-site, she added, "we will only have to there on Sunday." The club's work crew handles all the clean-up. 

The event won't miss a step where students are concerned; they'll have the activities enjoyed by other classes – a casino booth, laser tag and other surprise extras – along with Franklin Athletic Club's gyms, pool and locker room. As usual, food for the event has been donated. 

Rivett said other school districts have already gone the off-site route and "have been doing it for a couple of years," but this is a first for Harrison.

"There will definitely be a learning curve," she said.