88087 Wyo Sem US handbook.indd - Wyoming Seminary

Monitoring Weekend Activities – Parties
Parties sometimes take place in homes where parents are away, either for the weekend
or just for the evening. Often the teenager invites “a few friends” to the house for what
may be an innocent get-together. Unfortunately, the student grapevine is very effective,
and word spreads quickly that parents are away. The “host” may then encounter as
many as 40-50 teenagers at the door, many of whom he/she does not know. This poses a
difficult choice for the host, who may not be able to turn the others away.
We have been extremely fortunate not to have had any serious injuries or fatalities in the
aftermath of these parties. We have heard of students driving while under the influence
of alcohol or riding with drivers who were, and we want to do everything we can to
prevent a tragic situation.
As much as we wish we could prevent these parties from occurring, it is probably
unrealistic to count on that. Nonetheless, here are some suggestions we want to make in
the hope of deterring these activities.
• Have a straightforward conversation with your teenager, sharing your
expectations about attendance or behavior at parties.
• Pose some situations they might face and help them rehearse ways to say “no.”
• If you plan to be away, have a responsible adult stay at your home or, if your
youngster is staying elsewhere, ask him/her for the house key. Don’t put your
student in a difficult situation by allowing access to a vacant home.
• Consider a “no guests” policy when you aren’t home.
• Notify the police that you won’t be home and ask them to check the house
periodically.
We understand that these suggestions seem overzealous for kids who have been
trustworthy; however, many parties have occurred in homes of reliable youngsters who
were pressured into making poor choices.
Wyoming Seminary takes an aggressive stance with regard to parties, and we will notify
parents whenever we learn of possible occurrences. In some cases, our information
will be inaccurate and we apologize in advance for calls which may be unwarranted.
It is our hope, however, that the benefit which will come from our continued efforts to
communicate with parents will outweigh the occasional “false alarm.”
Ultimately, hosting gatherings involving Wyoming Seminary students, at which alcohol
is served or illegal drugs are being used, is a Major Rule violation. Such circumstances
will, in all likelihood, result in referral of the host and guests to Disciplinary Board
proceedings.
Expectations
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