Dear Junior Class Families,

As we reach the midpoint of the junior year, the excitement for upcoming milestones—from Prom this year to Senior events next year — is starting to build. These events create lifelong memories, but they also come with significant financial responsibilities. 

We are writing to share our strategy for managing these costs and to explain why you will see various fundraisers and dues requests over the coming months. Our primary goal is to minimize the final "out-of-pocket" cost for students and families when the big events arrive.

Strategic Planning and Oversight

Our school administration has worked closely with class advisors to carefully manage the calendar. We have made a concerted effort to limit the total number of fundraisers and prevent overlap with other school groups to avoid "fundraising fatigue." That said, there are families who have students in multiple classes, sports, organizations, and other clubs, so we understand the burden, as parents with multiple children ourselves.

Furthermore, we have spent significant time forecasting our expenses based on local venue pricing and historical attendance data. Our objective is to find a "financial sweet spot": we want to ensure every event is fully funded without leaving a significant leftover balance. Any funds remaining at the conclusion of senior year are typically passed to the class alumni account, and while a small cushion is helpful, our priority is to spend that money on the students while they are still here.

Believe it or not, the prom date for 2027 had to be booked in the spring of 2025, and many venues are no longer hosting proms after May 1, unless they are booked on a weeknight (Monday-Thursday). That also limited the number of places available and created some additional urgency.

Why We Raise Funds Now

The expenses associated with a graduating class are more substantial than many realize. To give you a sense of the scale:

• Transportation: Providing safe, professional busing to and from the Prom venue is a major priority. In recent years, transportation costs alone can run into the thousands of dollars. We will not be entertaining parent transportation, limos, or other forms of vehicles and will be requiring school-sponsored transportation to-and-from the venue.

• Prom Venue & Logistics: Beyond the ticket price, there are deposits, security, and staffing fees. The cost of the prom includes favors, music, food, entertainment (i.e. photo booths), and other particulars.

• Senior Week: Traditionally, the class sponsors a variety of excursions and events during the final week of school to celebrate the students' achievements before graduation. 

Two Paths to One Goal

We recognize that every family has a different preference when it comes to contributing:

• The "Direct" Approach: Some families prefer to pay a flat fee or a higher ticket price to avoid the "ask" of constant fundraising. We understand your time is valuable.

• The "Fundraising" Approach: Other families appreciate the opportunity to use events, sales, and community donations to defray costs. This allows students to "earn" their way and keeps individual ticket prices accessible for everyone in our diverse class community.

By running a mix of class dues, donations, and active fundraisers, we try to strike a balance. Every dollar we raise collectively is a dollar that doesn't have to be added to the price of a Prom ticket later.

Some FAQ’s regarding the Prom are pasted below. Feel free to reach out if you need any further insight!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To provide full transparency on how we manage the Class of 2027 funds, we’ve put together a few common questions and answers regarding our financial planning:

Where exactly does my money go?

Every dollar contributed—whether through dues or fundraisers—is earmarked for class-wide benefits. This includes venue deposits, catering, security, decorations, and the rising costs of professional transportation. It also covers the "extras" that make the final year special, such as Senior Week excursions and commemorative items.

Why are we paying dues now for events that happen next year?

Many venues and bus companies require deposits up to a year in advance to secure our preferred dates. By collecting dues and fundraising now, we avoid a "price shock" during the spring of senior year when graduation expenses (like caps, gowns, and college deposits) are already hitting family budgets.

How do fundraisers help if I don’t participate in them?

General class fundraisers (like restaurant nights or Breakfast with Santa) go into the central class pot. This lowers the base price of every ticket sold. Effectively, the more successful our collective fundraising is, the lower the final ticket price becomes for every student in the class. Our goal is to attempt to make the prom and senior week as close to cost-neutral for the students as possible.

What happens if there is money left over after graduation?

Our goal is to utilize as much of the raised funds as possible to benefit the students while they are still in school. However, a small "seed" balance is traditionally maintained and passed to the Class Alumni account to fund future reunions. We aim to keep this balance modest so that current families see the direct benefit of their contributions now.

Who oversees these funds?

Class accounts are managed through the school’s main office and principal, per the laws governing the Student Activity Agency Account. They are overseen by both class advisors and administration to ensure every cent is accounted for and spent according to statute. These accounts are typically audited every year and reconciled with the Town treasurer. They do not have oversight with central office.