BETHEL — Following graduation at Telstar on June 9, seniors will hop on a bus and head to Portland.  Before they head off they’ll have time for photos and pizza.

Heather Nivus, left, and Brandy Moore are the 2022 Telstar Project Graduation planners. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen

Project Graduation 2022 is being headed by senior parents, Heather Nivus and Brandy Moore with help from Sally Smith of the Telstar Alumni Association.

Every year is different, and this year they will take the class to Portland for a cruise on Casco Bay. Afterward, they’ll head to Spare Time for bowling and arcades. They won’t get back to Bethel until 6 a.m.

Students do not pay to attend. The purpose is to keep them safe on graduation night. Moore and Nivus said the goal is to have all 46 seniors come.

Moore and Nivus held a “31 bag” party on-line.  Parents and others bought bags some for themselves and others to donate. In April they will sell the raffle tickets to win the bags. In May, they will pull a name each day and anyone with a raffle ticket can win one or more bags.

Their final fundraiser is at Mac’s Car Wash on Cross Street in Bethel. It will be held in May with the date TBD. With this event, “the kids get really involved, too,” said Nivus.

The party planners are looking for more donations of money, goods, services, gift cards and prizes.

Every student will head home from the graduation party with a gift bag. “You have to come in order to get it,” said Moore.

She continued, “we really appreciate all the support we get from the community and from the local businesses who have donated already and from our parents that have stepped up to buy a bag and to fill a bag.’

Moore is the parent of Olivia Seames; Nivus is the parent of Ryan Nivus.

Other senior parents that are helping with the party are: Jamie Miller, Lindsay Storer, Tanya Johanson, Cassie and David Stevens, Tasha Chapman, Andrea and John White.

The group meets monthly at Telstar. Moore said, “Anyone can come that wants to help out.”

Nivus added, “Donations can be dropped off at the school or at Norway Savings [Bank] where we have an account.”