The Hall High School Class of 2015 celebrated their graduation at a tropical-themed Safe Grad party on Monday night in West Hartford.

By Katie Cavanaugh 

The Hall High School Class of 2015 celebrated their big day with an ‘Alohall’ Safe Grad Party. Submitted photo.

On Monday night, hundreds of newly-graduated Hall High school students filled the halls of their new alma mater to celebrate their big day at the annual Safe Grad party.

Every year, Hall and Conard seniors are kept in the dark about their class’s Safe Grad theme until they walk through the doors the night of their graduation. This year, Hall was transformed into a tropical paradise with an “Alohall” theme.

According to Anita Bennett, the head of the Safe Grad Committee, the theme was inspired by those of past years. “A lot of the reason for doing this theme is they’ve done a beach theme in the past,” said Bennett. “We were able to reuse and recycle things that were used before.”

Bennett’s daughter, Hannah Bennett, is a part of the Hall High Class of 2015. Hannah  will be attending New York University as part of the Liberal Studies Program and will be a member of the fencing team.

Bennett laughed as she explained how she accidentally fell into the roll of head of the Safe Grad Committee. After missing the first meeting, she sent an email saying that she wanted to be involved.

“I was just trying to get involved and no one stepped into the role, so I did it.” However, she said everyone involved made the experience fun and worthwhile.

“We have had the best committee this year. Everyone was fabulous,” said Bennett.

The Safe Grad committee is a group of parent volunteers who wanted to make the night successful for their children and their children’s peers. They began planning this event this past November. “It takes a lot of time to put this together,” said Bennett.

Safe Grad ran from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The teens had to be in the building by 11 p.m. They were allowed to leave whenever they wanted but if they left they were not let back in.

The committee planned a raffle for the end of the party to entice the students to stick around.

The Hall and Conard Safe Grad parties are fun and safe ways for the graduates of West Hartford’s two public high schools to celebrate the end of an era.

“It’s the last time for them to spend time with their friends from high school before they go off in different directions,” said Bennett. “It’s a good way for them to have a lot of fun in a really safe way.”

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!

A tropical themed room at Hall’s Safe Grad. Submitted photo.

A tropical themed room in Hall High School. Submitted photo.

One of the hallways of decorated for Hall’s Safe Grad. Submitted photo.