Ever feel as if your teen has a split personality – one minute sophisticated young adult, the next minute spirited child?  That transformation played out in real time around midnight on Saturday, April 21, as more than 400 Deerfield High School students entered the Sachs Recreation Center in glamorous gowns and handsome tuxedos, only to reappear moments later in t-shirts, shorts and sneakers!  The teens had come directly from their prom at the downtown Sheraton Hotel, to the After Party, a free, fun and safe event designed to let the kids blow off steam and bond as a class one last time before they exit the confines of Deerfield High School.  From the minute they arrived until nearly 3:30 a.m., the teens enjoyed a steady stream of pure, unadulterated fun.  Giant inflatable obstacle courses, and jousting pits, 3-on-3 volleyball and basketball tournaments, caricature artists and psychics, casino games, and a live DJ kept things jumping, while gourmet coffee drinks, pizza, sandwiches, ice cream treats, and baked goods galore kept the kids’ energy levels high.  Oh, and did we mention that nearly every kid went home with a prize, and one boy and one girl each won the grand prize of a 32”-inch flat screen TV?!

Obviously, an event like this doesn’t just happen.  For several months, a core group of dedicated DHS parents toiled to make this year’s After Party a success – not just so the kids could have an unforgettable evening of fun, but also to ensure their safety on a night when, as any parent knows, anything can happen. These parents raised the more than $20,000 needed to produce the event, enlisted scores of generous local businesses to help with funding, raffle prizes, and food, and recruited a tiresome crew of parents to staff the event.  They deserve special appreciation and recognition:  Sue Beauseigneur and Beth Greenberg, co-chairs extraordinaire; Peggy Pattis, Prizes; Julie Kogan, Lou Malnati’s Fundraiser; Patti Derrig and Susan Reid, Volunteers; Ann Mott and Barb Roman, Food; Randi Szilagyi, Entertainment; Sue Spinello, treasurer; and Gayle Byck and Judy Schraiber, Public Relations, Pam Katz and Mimi Noonan Photographers.  The support of DHS Principal Audris Griffith and Student Activities Director Brian Verisario was also invaluable. 

Finally, for helping to make the 2012 DHS After Party such a success, a huge thank you to our corporate sponsors, to everyone involved with the Sachs Recreation Center and the Deerfield Park District, and to the dozens of other parent volunteers, all of whom truly embody the proverb “it takes a village to raise a child.”  From a personal perspective, this event makes us proud to live in the Village of Deerfield!