School Leavers' Parties
Finishing your final year of school is a substantial achievement. It's also your chance to farewell your school, your teachers, and friends that you may have had for years, so it's important to celebrate in style.

Generally, high school leavers' will have two end-of-year parties: a school formal, towards year's end, and a more casual, anything-goes graduation party, directly following the formal or soon after it.

At some time during the last year of high school, many young women will choose to make their official "debut" into society, which means you may find yourself helping to organising a debutante's ball, with all the trimmings and formalities that entails. And then there's the high school reunion: the occasion on which you get to revisit those halcyon high school days, find out what everyone's been doing since, renew contact with old friends, make new ones - and have lots of fun doing it!

Planning the event
Generally, school formals and graduation parties are planned and put together by a committee of students - with help, if they're lucky, from parents, teachers, friends, local business owners and party professionals.

Often, the debs' ball will be a part of your school's social calendar, and will be organised by a group of interested students. Sometimes, it's a local community event, with the planning team consisting of people in the area who have some sort of interest or expertise in debutante balls, or your city or area's Scottish group (who usually arrange their own deb balls). You can get involved with the ball planning team by making your interest known, as long as you do so well in advance.
Reunions are usually organised by former students, sometimes with help from Parents and Schools' Associations. If your school has no reunion planning committee, there's no reason why you can't take it upon yourself, with or without help from fellow former students. If you're planning a reunion, let the school know. They may be able to help you to track down former students - and might also let you host the reunion at the school, or help you out with equipment, entertainers or funds.

Whatever the occasion, start organising early, especially if you're hoping to have a December party. End of year is a busy time for popular venues, hire vehicles, entertainers, caterers and other party professionals: you want to book in ahead of the pack.

Budget
Generally, budgets for high school functions are tight, and students often end up contributing or paying to attend. But with a bit of ingenuity and effort, you may be able to increase your funds. Try any or all of the following to raise extra money for your high school do:

¥ organise a school wide garage sale or market day, with part or all of the proceeds going to your party fund;
¥ get local businesses to contribute prizes and hold a raffle;
¥ approach organisations to see whether they'll give goods in return for sponsorship: a soft drink company might contribute some of your drinks; a flower shop might provide posies, corsages and centrepieces; a stationer or printers could help you out with invitations, place tags, etc;
¥ ask friends and former students to source performers who'll work for "mates' rates" - or get your school rock band or orchestra to perform for free;
¥ consider what your fellow students can do to entertain - target the wannabe skateboard stars or BMX trick riders, beat boys and girls, the playground break-dancing posse;
¥ contact your local dance schools: they may have a funk, salsa, tap or hip hop dance class who'll perform at your in return for the publicity, or for a small fee;
¥ ask parents and teachers if they can help you by sourcing or supplying retro or themed props and decorations.

This article continues in Party Magazine.